The Climate Transition Acceleration Program will support the Government of Uzbekistan in three areas of reform: strengthening organizations and public finance management; increasing climate resilience in water and land management, agriculture and social protection systems; and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy in sectors such as transport and energy.
As the ADB's first policy measure to combat climate change in Central Asia, the program is in line with the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (ONUV), the Strategic Framework for the Transition to a Green Economy by 2030 and the ADB Country Partnership Strategy for Uzbekistan for 2024-2028.
"The program gives priority to decarbonizing the economy and increasing resilience to natural disasters and climate change, while supporting vulnerable segments of the population," said Evgeny Zhukov, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia. - "Uzbekistan is among the most energy-intensive economies in the world, so the program will support the government's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 35% by 2030. The reduction will be achieved through the development of renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency."
"Uzbekistan's water resources are under serious threat due to climate change and inefficient use," said Kanokpan Lao-Araya, Director of the ADB Permanent Mission in Uzbekistan. - "This program supports the adoption of legislation that promotes investments in the modernization of irrigation systems and smart management of water resources, taking into account climate change, to ensure water security and combat accelerating desertification, which threatens fragile ecosystems."
"The program was designed to enhance the government's capacity to address the complex challenges of climate change through improved policy coordination, targeted allocation of budget resources, and enhanced monitoring and accountability for climate-related expenditures and indicators," said ADB Chief Public Sector Specialist Hanif Rahemtullah.
Uzbekistan joined the ADB in 1995, and since then the bank has provided loans, grants and technical assistance to the country in the amount of 12.5 billion US dollars to help achieve a prosperous, inclusive, sustainable and stable future for the country.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, stable and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while continuing its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB was founded in 1966 and has 69 member countries, 49 of which are located in the region.
