Participation of Uzbekistan in global environmental initiatives to achieve sustainable development

Introduction

Uzbekistan's participation in global environmental initiatives is important both for the country itself and for the whole world. Uzbekistan's inclusion in these endeavours helps to strengthen international cooperation and joint action on environmental protection. This not only contributes to improving the environmental situation in Uzbekistan, but also contributes to addressing global environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Thus, Uzbekistan's active participation in international environmental initiatives is an important step towards achieving sustainable development and creating more favourable conditions for future generations.

Environmental Policy of Uzbekistan

The environmental policy of the Republic is oriented towards transition from protection of individual natural components to comprehensive protection of ecological systems, ensuring optimal conditions for human life and harmonisation of interaction with mechanisms of development of economic sectors based on the principles of ‘green economy’. To ensure environmental security, environmental justifications are being developed covering legal, organisational and economic aspects. In the context of rational use of natural resources and establishment of legal order, the main attention is currently paid to environmental legislation.

For example, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 83 of 21 February 2022 «On additional measures to accelerate the implementation of the National Sustainable Development Goals and targets for the period until 2030» was adopted, which demonstrates Uzbekistan's firm determination to achieve the global 2030 Agenda through a comprehensive partnership with all UN member states to implement the sixteen national Sustainable Development Goals.

For Uzbekistan, the UN Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, was an important impetus for the development of international co-operation in achieving global environmental balance and understanding. At that conference it was emphasised that the only way to ensure long-term economic progress is to integrate it with environmental protection. Uzbekistan's active participation in international programmes and projects and accession to environmental conventions contributes to the country's integration into the global processes of preserving and improving the environment and achieving sustainable development.

In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in Johannesburg, where a Political Declaration and a WSSD Implementation Plan with specific commitments and timelines were adopted. The Summit also announced the creation of a new international institute of Partnership Initiatives, and the Central Asia Initiative was included in the global Implementation Plan aimed at developing and implementing a Subregional Strategy for Sustainable Development (SSDS) that addresses the interests of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan became a member of the United Nations in 1992, shortly after independence, and has begun cooperation with a number of its programmes and specialized agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and its two regional commissions: Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (EXAPO).

Participation in international environmental agreements

Uzbekistan actively participates in global environmental initiatives and demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development through ratification of key international environmental conventions. Among such important documents are the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. By joining these agreements, Uzbekistan has made commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. These steps emphasise the country's desire to integrate into a global community that promotes environmental conservation and sustainable development. Participation in such global initiatives allows Uzbekistan not only to receive the support and experience of the international community, but also to make a significant contribution to solving planet-wide environmental problems.

Bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection with the following countries is currently being organised: China (since 1997), Georgia (since 1995), India (since 1996), Israel (since 1997), Japan (since 1994), Kazakhstan (since 1997), Kyrgyzstan (since 1996), Malaysia (since 1996), Republic of Korea (since 1995), Slovakia (since 1998), Switzerland (since 1998), Tajikistan (since 1994), Thailand (since 1998), Turkey (since 1996), Turkmenistan (since 1996), Ukraine (since 1998), United Arab Emirates (since 2006), Azerbaijan (since 2006).

The most significant transboundary environmental problems for the Central Asian countries are:

- Limited water resources;

- Problems with access to quality drinking water;

- Risk of radiation contamination in border areas;

- Air pollution caused by the transport of salt particles from the dried Aral Sea bed;

- Desertification and degradation of mountain ecosystems;

- Loss of biodiversity.

In response to these challenges, Central Asian countries have signed several key declarations such as: ‘Nukus Declaration on Sustainable Development of the Aral Sea Basin’ (5 September 1995), “Almaty Declaration” (21 December 1991), “Ashgabat Declaration (30 November 2011)” and “Dushanbe Declaration” (5 July 2000).

In addition, the following agreements were concluded with the participation of Central Asian diplomatic corps:

- Agreement between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on co-operation in environmental protection and rational use of natural resources (1998), as well as similar bilateral agreements between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan (1997) and Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (1996).

- Agreement on the Joint Use of Water and Energy Resources in the Syr Darya River Basin, signed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, with the accession of Tajikistan (1998).

Also within the framework of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-26), the governments of the Central Asian countries (31 October - 12 November 2021, Glasgow) united and made a unified regional statement, voicing a common position of the region on the climate agenda. One of the significant events at the regional level was the adoption of the regional programme ‘Green Agenda’ for Central Asia at the Fourth Consultative Meeting of Heads of State on 21 July 2022 in Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan). In accordance with this document, the countries of the region agreed to expand mutually beneficial bilateral and regional cooperation on the use and implementation of modern energy and resource-saving technologies and low greenhouse gas emission technologies. The document envisages strengthening cooperation in adaptation and mitigation of climate change, environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, prevention and elimination of natural and man-made emergencies, and reduction of risks of their occurrence.

Regional projects in the field of eco-monitoring, biodiversity and climate change are being implemented: ‘Capacity development and technology transfer to improve the use of data and information for environmental monitoring in Central Asia’ (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan), in cooperation with UNEP, ‘Support for the implementation and review of the progress of the global framework for biodiversity beyond 2020 (Pan-European region)’ (Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Moldova), ‘Combating illegal trade in wildlife in Central Asia’ (Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Moldova), ‘Combating illegal trade in wildlife in Central Asia’ (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan), and ‘Combating illegal trade in wildlife in Central Asia’ (Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Moldova).

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan and the Regional Environmental Centre of Central Asia (CAREC) is being implemented. Under the SAMR4ASB project, in cooperation with the World Bank and the Regional Environmental Centre of Central Asia, modern mobile environmental laboratories for monitoring atmospheric air quality were transferred to the Centre for Specialised Analytical Control in the Field of Environmental Protection, the Tashkent City Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, and Uzhydromet in 2020.

Table 1 shows the status of ratification or participation of each of the Central Asian countries in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (1995), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) (1998), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1997), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) (2002), World Heritage Convention (WHC) (1996), Convention on Biological Diversity (2002), Convention on World Heritage (2002), and Convention on Biological Diversity (2002). ), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) (2002), World Heritage Convention (WHC) (1996), Central Asian Countries Initiative on Land Management (CACILM) (2011), Global Snow Leopard Conservation Programme (GSLEP) (2024).

Table 1 . Participation of Central Asian countries in regional initiatives on environmental protection

Transboundary conservation contributes to the long-term survival of migratory species by increasing the area under conservation management, reducing fragmentation and improving connectivity. This is of great importance for the countries of Central Asia, in this regard, a roundtable «Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia» was held in Tashkent from 28 to 30 November 2023. The event was attended by representatives of governmental organisations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as domestic and international organisations.

Uzbekistan has established extensive co-operation with the Committee on Environmental Policy of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in the areas of air quality improvement, environmental policy and management, and environmental education. The Third Environmental Performance Review of the Republic of Uzbekistan was developed with the participation of UNECE experts and national experts.

Active co-operation with the European Union within the framework of the Environment, Climate Change and Water Resources Project (WECOOP) is being developed. Based on the agreements reached with the European side, the cooperation within WECOOP is aimed at introducing European air quality standards and other relevant basic requirements, conducting air quality analyses, including air quality management systems, in accordance with international, in particular European, approaches. The 6th EU-Central Asia High-Level Conference on Environment and Water Co-operation took place in Tashkent in January 2019.

Uzbekistan joined the BIOFIN (Biodiversity Finance Initiative) 2021 programme and is currently working on the first national biodiversity finance plan, which will offer financial solutions based on the needs and context of the country. Depending on the cultural and economic characteristics of each participating country, the BIOFIN programme offers more than 150 financing solutions for biodiversity. The programme itself is based on the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted in 1992, which calls on participating countries to develop their own national biodiversity strategies and action plans in line with the goals and objectives of the Convention.

Cooperation with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) is carried out in order to increase the level of ecological knowledge, as well as material and technical support for the inclusion of the ‘Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve’ in the UNESCO programme ‘Man and Biosphere’ within the framework of the joint project ‘Ecosystem approach to land use and conservation of ecosystems in the lower reaches of the Amudarya River’. In 2021, the Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve was included in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme. The GIZ Green Central Asia initiative supports environmental innovations and technologies that reduce the impact of anthropogenic factor on nature. GIZ projects ‘Integrated Land Resources Management in Central Asia’ and ‘Environmentally Oriented Regional Development of the Aral Sea Region’ are being implemented.

Other examples of partnership with the EU and other states are the projects ‘Rehabilitation of tugai forests and strengthening of material and technical base of forestry farms’ in partnership with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), ‘Construction of solid domestic waste landfills in Jizzak oblast’ in partnership with KEITI. Projects are also being implemented in the field of environmental monitoring, development of hydrometeorological services, and climate sustainability in institutional cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Finnish Meteorological Institute).

It is also important to highlight the support of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in addressing food system transformation, including its social and environmental challenges. FAO provides technical expertise and knowledge sharing on a wide range of agricultural and rural development issues. These include sustainable land use, water management, crop diversification, livestock production and climate-smart agricultural practices. Given Uzbekistan's vulnerability to climate change, FAO is supporting the country in developing climate-smart agricultural practices. This includes the promotion of drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation methods and climate-smart agricultural practices to increase productivity while reducing environmental impacts. FAO is working with Uzbekistan to address environmental challenges, including desertification, deforestation and water scarcity. FAO promotes the exchange of innovative agricultural practices, technologies and research results among countries in the region.

National environmental projects and programmes

To ensure the rational use of water resources in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan, it is planned to modernise the irrigation system and increase the share of concrete-lined canals to 46% or 13,200 km. () As a result of the construction and reconstruction of reclamation facilities, the salinity of irrigated land has been reduced to 1.7 million hectares. The area of irrigated lands with high and medium salinity will be reduced to 430,000 hectares by 2030, and the area of lands with problematic groundwater level will be reduced to 773,400 hectares.

The expansion of the nationwide Green Space Project (Yashil Makon) aims to stabilise the environmental situation in Uzbekistan. 200 million trees are planted annually, raising the greening level of the country to 30 per cent (https://uzbekistan2030.uz/ru/strategy) with care for each tree and the creation of an irrigation system. Industrial enterprises have created 1984 green gardens and ‘green belts’ of 30 million saplings. Green parks are being organised in the territories of public institutions, enterprises and educational institutions. It is planned to increase the area of green spaces in Tashkent fivefold to 5,000 hectares. An aerobiological monitoring system is being set up in 10 regions of the country, and ‘public parks’ are being created in cities and district centres for every 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants.

The National Target Objective ‘Ecological rehabilitation of Priaralie through forest reclamation measures on the dried bed of the Aral Sea on the area of 80 thousand hectares’ is also a good example to combat desertification. In order to improve the ecological condition in the Aral Sea area, prevent sand deflation and desertification processes, as well as restore biodiversity on the dried seabed, since the beginning of the implementation of the action, forest planting and phytoreclamation works have been carried out on an area of more than 90.089 thousand hectares, including 18644 hectares in 2016 and 19043 hectares in 2017. During the period of implementation of the measure, the rooting rate was ensured, which was 44% in 2013, 2015 and 2016, 41% in 2014 and 37% in 2017.

Conclusion

Uzbekistan has developed and implemented a number of strategies and programmes aimed at biodiversity conservation. In particular, the programmes are aimed at developing a network of national parks and reserves, which contributes to the protection of unique ecosystems and rare species. Habitat restoration programmes, including measures to restore degraded forests, pastures and aquatic ecosystems, which contributes to increasing the number and diversity of animals and plants. Monitoring and research on the status of species populations, which ensures scientific justification and effective management of protected areas, as well as the adoption and implementation of legislative acts aimed at protecting natural resources and biodiversity conservation.

Despite the positive steps taken in the field of biodiversity conservation, the effectiveness of existing strategies requires further evaluation and improvement. Successful strategies are increasing the number of rare species, restoring ecosystems, raising public awareness of conservation issues, but insufficient funding and resources, threats from climate change and anthropogenic activities negatively affect the achievement of the set objectives.

Regional co-operation also plays a key role in biodiversity conservation, especially in transboundary ecosystems. Exchange of experience and resources, joint studies and projects allow for the sharing of expertise and resources between countries in the region. Protection of overlapping ecosystems, joint efforts to protect natural resources at borders contribute to preserving the integrity of ecosystems and animal migration routes.

Successful implementation of biodiversity conservation strategies is impossible without the active participation of the public and the private sector. An important aspect has been the improvement of environmental education, public awareness and involvement of the private sector, which has contributed to a more responsible attitude towards nature and active public participation in conservation activities.

Involvement of the local population in conservation activities, creation of volunteer movements and environmental NGOs has contributed to the efficiency of nature conservation. Public organisations play an important role in monitoring the state of ecosystems, conducting educational programmes and participating in restoration projects. The private sector is increasingly involved in conservation initiatives through environmental entrepreneurship, corporate, social responsibility and partnerships with government agencies and NGOs. Investments in environmentally sustainable projects, such as ecotourism and restoration of natural resources, contribute not only to nature conservation but also to economic development.

Uzbekistan's participation in global environmental initiatives and actions to achieve sustainable development demonstrates the country's firm commitment to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life of its citizens. Active participation in international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, the implementation of national projects such as the Green Space and the modernisation of the irrigation system show that Uzbekistan is taking meaningful steps towards a sustainable future.

Nevertheless, in order to achieve long-term sustainable development goals, it is necessary to continue to actively participate in global environmental initiatives. This will not only strengthen Uzbekistan's position in the international arena, but will also allow it to utilise the best practices and technologies of other countries. Strengthening international co-operation and exchange of experience will help solve environmental problems faced by the country more quickly and effectively.

Call on the international community: strengthen partnerships, share knowledge and work together on global environmental challenges. Only through comprehensive cooperation and mutual support can we achieve sustainable development and create favourable conditions for future generations.