Climate policy is an integral part of Uzbekistan's course

Over the past decade, we have increasingly witnessed the devastating effects of climate change occurring in the world. 
Uzbekistan, like the Central Asian region, is no exception: the country is particularly sensitive to violations of the ecological balance. The forecasts of international experts are already talking about the negative impact. For example, by the middle of the century, a decrease in the flow of the two largest rivers in the region, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya (up to 15%), a decrease in water supply per capita (by 25%) and crop yields (by 40%) is expected. All this can adversely affect the development of the economy, damage existing infrastructure and worsen the health and life of the population.
In this regard, in recent years, as part of the large-scale reforms carried out by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the climate agenda has been identified as a priority area of state policy. One of the main confirmations of this was the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2017, and its ratification in 2018. Uzbekistan, along with 175 signatory countries, undertook to keep the increase in the average global temperature in the world below 2 degrees Celsius.
In 2021, at COP26 in Glasgow, Uzbekistan presented an updated nationally determined contribution (ONUV-2) to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP, increasing the indicator from 10% to 35% by 2030 compared to the level of 2010 (ONUV-1). 
In order to achieve the intended goals, the regulatory and institutional framework has been significantly expanded and supplemented. Several strategic documents and resolutions have been adopted and implemented, including the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 4477 dated October 2019, which approved the National Strategy for the Transition to a Green Economy for 2019-2030 and established the Interdepartmental Council on the Green Economy.
A number of strategic and programmatic documents were adopted, including the concepts of environmental protection until 2030 and water management development for 2020-2030, and the solid waste management strategy for the period 2019-2028.
In 2023 By presidential decree, the Ministry of Natural Resources was transformed into the Ministry of Ecology, Environment and Climate Change. The position of Deputy Prosecutor General responsible for compliance and supervision of the implementation of legislation in the field of ecology, environmental protection and forestry has also been introduced.
Another important step in the development of the country's environmental policy was the inclusion, for the first time in the country's history, of separate articles on environmental protection in the updated Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which reflects the rights to ensure environmental safety of citizens and their duties. In addition, Presidential Decree No.UP-81 of May 2023 established the right of citizens to compensation for damage caused as a result of violations of environmental legislation. 
Moreover, the Presidential Climate Council was established in July this year. It is defined by the supreme advisory body on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
One of the most pressing environmental issues facing the republic is ensuring water security. Today, over 80% of Uzbekistan's water comes from neighboring countries located upstream. Only about 22% of renewable fresh water sources are located within the country, and the availability of water resources per capita is 57% of the average. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Uzbekistan is among the 25 countries in the world that are particularly susceptible to water stress and the effects of climate change only exacerbate the problem of water scarcity. 
In these conditions, the country's leadership places special emphasis on improving the efficiency of water use.
According to the analysis presented by the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, the area of application of water-saving technologies in the republic has increased by 7.7 times over the past five years, and the coverage area has reached 1 million hectares. Of these, 398 thousand hectares are drip irrigation, 31 thousand hectares are sprinkler irrigation, a discrete irrigation method has been introduced on 16 thousand hectares. Today, Uzbekistan is among the world's top 10 leading countries (7th place, after Israel, the USA, the Russian Federation, Spain, Brazil and Italy) in terms of areas of implemented water-saving technologies.
The country has a practice of subsidizing citizens who want to implement TSA on their farms. If in 2019 agricultural enterprises were allocated 137.9 billion soums of subsidies, in 2020 - 251.6 billion soums, then in 2021 this figure increased to 899.4 billion soums, including 754.4 billion soums of subsidies for water saving technologies in cotton fields. 
Another key area of Uzbekistan's climate policy has been the development of renewable energy sources (RES). In 2019, there were significant changes in the management of the country's energy sector. By Presidential Decree dated February 1, 2019, the Ministry of Energy was established, which became the authorized body for the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of renewable energy use. 
In the same year, the most important legislative acts were adopted – the Laws "On the Use of Renewable Energy Sources" and "On Public-Private Partnership", which created the legal basis for the accelerated development of renewable energy projects.
The strategy of transition to a "green" economy has set ambitious goals: by 2026, it is planned to increase the share of "green" energy to 8 thousand. MW, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5 million tons. 
By 2030, the task is to double the energy efficiency of the economy and bring the share of renewable energy to 40%. To achieve these indicators, large-scale construction of new renewable energy facilities, including solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants, is planned. It is noted that in the next three years, 28 large solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 8 GW will be launched in Uzbekistan.
Today, the country has created a comprehensive incentive system for the development of renewable energy sources. In particular, manufacturers of renewable energy installations are exempt from paying all types of taxes for a period of five years from the date of their state registration. Energy producers from alternative sources receive a ten-year exemption from property tax for renewable energy installations and land tax on sites occupied by these installations. Individuals using renewable energy in residential premises with complete disconnection from existing energy networks are exempt from property tax and land tax for a period of three years.
Since 2020, a system of state compensation has been introduced for individuals who purchase solar photovoltaic plants, solar water heaters and energy-efficient gas burners. In addition, compensations are provided to cover interest costs on loans for the purchase of renewable energy installations to both individuals and legal entities.
Uzbekistan is actively attracting international investments in the development of renewable energy sources. A good example was the project of a 100 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Navoi region, implemented on the basis of a public-private partnership with the United Arab Emirates. In August 2024, negotiations were held with a Malaysian company on the construction of a new 200 MW solar power plant in the Ferghana region. The cost of the project is estimated at $150 million. This year, with the assistance of the People's Republic of China, it is planned to create a solar power plant with a capacity of 700 MW in the Tashkent region.
Currently, the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, together with the Asian Development Bank, is working on the implementation of investment projects for solar photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of up to 1 GW in the period 2019-2025.
Consistent work is also underway in Uzbekistan to regulate air quality. Recently, the Air Tashkent air quality monitoring program was launched, developed by the Department of Digital Development (DCR) under the Tashkent Khokimiyat. Since 2023, within the framework of this program, the level of morbidity of the population from air pollution in Surkhandarya, Bukhara, Khorezm regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan has been studied. In addition, a rating of each region according to the level of atmospheric pollution has been introduced since this year. 
Along with national efforts, Uzbekistan is actively promoting climate initiatives aimed at consolidating the region to take measures to combat climate change. Thus, in 2022, at the 4th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia (CGGCA), the Regional Program "Green Agenda" was adopted on the initiative of Uzbekistan. During the 5th CGGCA, the idea of creating a Regional Strategy on adaptation to climate Change was announced.  
Realizing the importance of international cooperation, President Sh.M.Mirziyoyev speaks at various venues (the OPOP and SCO forum, at summits of Central Asian countries, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, and others) with a call for "greening" the economy, considering climate change as a priority on an ongoing basis.
Tashkent's active cooperation with the United Nations deserves special attention. Currently, about 140 projects worth $174.59 million are being implemented in Uzbekistan with the participation of UN agencies. The largest of them are in the field of transition to a "green" economy in the agri–food sector ($4.1 million) and the development of a national climate change adaptation plan ($1.2 million).
In August 2023, at the initiative of Uzbekistan, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on sustainable forest management. The country actively participates in UN climate conferences and implements joint projects with international financial institutions.