In his speech, the Minister highlighted Central Asia's high vulnerability to climate change, increasing land degradation and declining water resources. He also noted that the temperature in the region has already increased by 2.2 °C, and glaciers annually lose up to 0.5% of their volume.
In addition, Aziz Abdukhakimov drew attention to Uzbekistan's new goal for Nationally Determined Contributions (ONUV) - the country intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 50% by 2035 compared with 2010.
The Minister also spoke about plans for the development of renewable energy, the expansion of forests and the modernization of the waste management system. He also noted the importance of the Green University initiative and the regional center for combating desertification that is being created.
In conclusion, Aziz Abdukhakimov invited the participants to the 8th GEF Assembly and the Eco Expo Central Asia exhibition, which will be held in Samarkand on May 31 - June 5, 2026.
