Uzbekistan's policy on climate change adaptation and mitigation

In recent years, the climate agenda has become one of the priorities of Uzbekistan's domestic and foreign policy. This trend is explained by the fact that the country is increasingly feeling the effects of global climate change. 

At the same time, the measures taken by the Government to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change are being taken in accordance with Uzbekistan's obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement and other international documents on achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
It is noteworthy that in our country, special attention is paid to adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change at the highest level. This is confirmed by the words of the Head of State, who has repeatedly stressed and emphasizes the priority of the climate agenda for Uzbekistan at various venues. 
Thus, addressing the Parliament and the people (December 2022), Sh. Mirziyoyev noted that "serious environmental problems are currently emerging in Uzbekistan, as well as around the world. Among them in most regions are soil degradation, reduction of fertile lands, desertification, water scarcity, drought, an increase in the frequency of emergencies, as well as issues of providing clean drinking water to the population. Therefore, caring for nature, maintaining the purity of water, air and the environment should become a real concern for the residents of each mahalla." 
At a joint meeting of the Chambers of the Oliy Majlis (July 2023), the President once again stressed that "solving problems of ecology and environmental protection, water scarcity will continue to be an urgent task for us. We are all, of course, supporters of ensuring an ecological balance, clean air and water, and a clean environment. This issue is extremely relevant and important for us. The country is implementing large-scale programs aimed at preserving and strengthening the priceless ecosystem. We will continue this work at an accelerated pace."
Speaking at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (September 2023), the Head of State also noted that "Uzbekistan, to the best of its ability, continues to direct efforts to eliminate the consequences of the Aral tragedy, which is a global problem. The support of the international community is very important to continue working in this direction," the President said.
In turn, at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28, UAE 2023), President of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev noted that "the transition to a green economy and the achievement of carbon neutrality are a priority strategic task of the New Uzbekistan." 
Realizing the importance and urgency of actions to address climate change issues, such as the transition to environmentally sound energy sources, meeting energy needs and ensuring sustainable development, Uzbekistan joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1993, ratified the Kyoto Protocol (1999) and the Paris Agreement (2018). 
Also in 2021, at the 26th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-26), Uzbekistan announced additional commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 35% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. In 2022, the country joined the Global Methan Pledge initiative to to achieve the collective goal of reducing methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020.
In order to fulfill the obligations assumed, the national regulatory framework has significantly expanded and strengthened in recent years. 
In particular, the key directions of Uzbekistan's climate policy were fixed in such flagship documents as the Development Action Strategy for 2017-2020, the Strategy "Uzbekistan-2030", as well as such program documents as the Concept of Environmental Protection until 2030, the Concept of Water Management Development for 2020-2030, the Strategy for Agricultural Development for 2020-2030 The Strategy for the transition to a "green" economy for 2019-2030, the Strategy for the Conservation of Biodiversity for 2019-2028 and others. In addition, a strategy for decarbonizing the economy of Uzbekistan until 2060
has been developed. To ensure the practical implementation of these programs, as well as for the development of agriculture and water management, energy, environmental protection, etc., a number of laws, decrees and resolutions of the President and Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted. In addition, the country is developing Water, Environmental and Social Codes.
These documents set out the main directions for achieving the targets for the implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures, including: 
a) reduction of specific greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 30-35% by 2030 compared to the baseline level of 2010;
b) introduction of cleaner and safer industrial technologies and an increase in energy efficiency of economic sectors by 2 times, industrial infrastructure by 20%; 
c) improving the efficiency of water use in all sectors of the economy, introducing water-saving irrigation technologies up to 2 million hectares and increasing yields by 30-35%; 
d) increasing the production capacity of renewable energy sources (RES) to 15-25 GW and bringing their share in the total volume of electric energy production to more than 30-40%; 
e) expansion of the area of protected natural territories to 12% of the country's territory, as well as bringing forest plantations in the Aral Sea region to 2.3 million hectares;
f) introduction of international and national "green" criteria in the field of public investment and procurement, certification systems for energy efficiency of buildings, etc. 
By now, it is already possible to observe the practical implementation of measures towards achieving these targets in the country. 
Thus, in order to increase energy efficiency in 2020, it has become mandatory in the country to determine the class and technical indicators of energy efficiency of products (equipment, goods) and technologies during their certification in Uzbekistan. 
Since August 1, 2024, the ISO 50001 energy management system has been gradually implemented at domestic enterprises and organizations, providing for transparency and objectivity in assessing energy efficiency, reducing energy intensity and reducing emissions into the atmosphere. The implementation of this standard will allow enterprises to obtain an international certificate to enter the international level.
Measures are being taken to promote energy efficiency in the domestic sector, including compensation for part of the expenses of individuals when installing solar photovoltaic plants in homes, interest costs on loans from commercial banks of individuals and legal entities for the purchase of renewable energy installations, energy-efficient gas burners and boilers, as well as other energy-efficient equipment.
Since November 1, 2024, Uzbekistan has introduced energy efficiency categories for buildings and structures with an area of over 200 square meters. The facilities will be divided into categories from "A" – the highest energy efficiency to "G" - the lowest energy efficiency. By the end of 2024, a specialized electronic platform will be created to maintain a register of energy certificates and reports on the results of energy audits of buildings and structures. A mandatory energy audit will be conducted at least once every five years.
In addition, a course has been taken to increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES). According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in 2020-2023, the volume of solar energy in the country increased 63 times, from 4 MW to 253 MW, which experts attribute to the commissioning in 2021 of a solar power plant in the Karmaninsky district of Navoi region. 
By the end of 2023, it was possible to put into operation solar and photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of more than 1.1 thousand. MW, wind farms with a capacity of 500 MW. In general, it is planned to increase the capacity of "green" power plants to 27 GW by 2030. 
At the same time, measures are being taken in the country for water conservation and rational use of water resources. The country has adopted a sectoral adaptation plan for water management for 2024-2030.
One of the priorities is the introduction of water-saving technologies for irrigation. According to the Ministry of Water Management, in 2023-2024, the area covered by water-saving technologies increased from 1 to 1.6 million hectares (from 23% to 37% of the total area of irrigated land – 4.3 million hectares). 
The introduction of water–saving technologies allows you to save up to 30-40% of water, fertilizers and fuel - up to 25-30%. By 2030, it is planned to cover all irrigated lands with water-saving technologies.
These indicators put Uzbekistan in first place in the Central Asian region and 7th place in the world after Israel, the USA, the Russian Federation, Spain, Brazil and Italy in terms of areas with the introduction of water-saving technologies.
In addition, in order to reduce water losses in irrigation networks, at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, 2024 was declared the "shock year for channel concreting" in the water sector. The task has been set to concret 1.5 thousand km in 2024, 4 times more channels than in 2023, and at least 2 thousand km of channels in 2025.
In total, by 2030, it is planned to increase the share of main and inter-farm channels with concrete pavement from 10.1 thousand km (37%) to 20.5 thousand km (71%). In general, according to the data, the introduction of water-saving technologies and the adoption of comprehensive measures in the field of water management allows Uzbekistan to save about 7 billion annually. m3 of water.
At the same time, automated control systems (SCADA) and online water accounting and control "Smart Water" are being actively implemented in the water sector. 
Thanks to the introduction of digital technologies at water management facilities that facilitate the operational management of water resources, in 2021-2023, water savings increased 1.5 times, from 350 million m3 to 530 million m3.