President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan Tuesday, his press service reported.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized in his remarks that climate change had become the main global challenge and directly impacts the escalation in geopolitical tensions. The problems of poverty, food and energy security, access to water and resources are especially aggravated.
“We acutely feel their consequences in Central Asia. Climate problems are becoming new obstacles to improving the quality of life of the population and implementing national development strategies,” the President of Uzbekistan said.
“Our main goal within the framework of the Paris Agreement is to prevent an accelerated increase in air temperature in the region, keeping it within 1.5-2 degrees in the current century,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The head of state reminded that Uzbekistan had been implementing reforms to achieve carbon neutrality: by 2030, the country vowed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35%, and by 2050, the country was ready to expand these commitments, and Uzbekistan also intends to increase the share of "green" energy to 40%, with clusters of electric vehicles and "green" hydrogen, solar and wind generation hubs being set up in the country. We are expanding green areas as part of the Yashil Makon (Green Space) program.
To jointly mitigate the consequences of global climate change, Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a number of initiatives.
"It is important to expand technical assistance from leading countries and multilateral institutions to identify the climate challenges facing developing countries," he said. The Uzbekistan president proposed setting up of an International Center for the Assessment of Climate Loss and Damage.
"Common approaches are required to prevent pollution of transboundary water resources and preserve sustainable biodiversity," the president also noted.
On behalf of Uzbekistan, which lost the Aral Sea, he advocated the development of a Declaration of Commitments to Ensure the Health and Environmental Safety of River Ecosystems under the auspices of the UN.
The president also said that Uzbekistan had plans to launch a Regional Genetic Resource Bank to increase plant resistance to climate change.
"We wish to promote the initiative to create a UN Innovative Agro-Industrial Hub for landlocked countries in our country," he said.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev also proposed creating an Alliance of Climate Capitals of the World to transfer advanced knowledge and practices in the field of sustainable development of megacities and cities suffering from climate change, and to hold its first forum in Tashkent.
At the end of his address, the President invited delagates at the conference to the Global Festival of Digital Green Initiatives, which will be held in the Aral Sea region on May 15, 2025, on International Climate Day.
