Today, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Week. In his remarks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev underscored that nowadays the diversification of energy sources and a drastic reduction of hydrocarbons share are the main prerequisites for mitigating the climate change, ensuring sustainable development and global security.

He emphasized that the strategic goal of the New Uzbekistan is to ensure environmental sustainability and economic growth through the transition to a resource-saving, green development model. 

“That is why 2025 has been declared the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy in Uzbekistan,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized. 

He underscored that Uzbekistan had developed a long-term Low-Carbon Development Strategy and a National Green Financing Program. In the next 5 years, the share of green projects in total projects will rise to 50 percent. 

Steps are being taken to adopt national systems for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and trading in emission quotas. By 2030, it is planned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent, with a subsequent gradual increase in this indicator. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev drew attention to the rapid development of renewables to fully meet the energy needs of the rapidly growing Uzbek economy. 

- Almost $ 20 billion in foreign investment has been drawn to the energy sector over the past 5 years, modern energy capacities of 9.6 gigawatts commissioned. In particular, 14 PV and wind plants with total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, as well as 2 energy storage systems with a capacity of 300 megawatts have been erected, - the head of state underscored. 

Currently, more than 50 large projects worth over $ 26 billion are being implemented jointly with foreign partners to produce a total of 24 gigawatts of power. Uzbekistan is eyeing to raise the share of renewables to 54 percent by 2030. 

- Today, green development in Uzbekistan has been upgraded to the level of a nationwide movement, - said Shavkat Mirziyoyev. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of increasing regional cooperation to turn Central Asia into one of the green" economy and clean energy centers globally. 

The first steps have been taken to revive the Great Silk Road through energy interconnectivity. The multilateral agreement recently signed with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of COP-29 will make it possible to export "green" energy to Europe. 

– I would like to underscore that the United Arab Emirates is our reliable and strategic partner in the green energy, – said the leader of Uzbekistan. 

In recent years, the investment portfolio with the UAE has exceeded $ 26 billion, with renewables having become the driving force. 

5 power generation facilities with a total capacity of 1.5 gigawatts have been commissioned together with Masdar. 3 more green projects will be implemented to create generating capacities totalling 1.6 gigawatts, energy storage systems with 520 megawatt total capacity per hour will be erected. 

Similar projects are also being implemented jointly with other leading Emirati companies, as well as partners from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and China. 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has declared our country’s interest in jointly tapping the enormous potential of Central Asia in the solar, water and wind energy, as well as the production of green hydrogen. 

According to provisional estimates, Uzbekistan alone has the potential to produce 500 gigawatts of solar, 100 gigawatts of wind and 10 gigawatts of hydroelectric power. 

“In this area, we are ready to provide our foreign partners with the most favorable conditions,” the Uzbek leader emphasized. 

He urged global research centers, experts and scientists attending the forum to cooperate with the Green University opened in Tashkent in implementing research and innovation programs.

He proposed to set up an International Research Network to Combat Land Degradation and Desertification on the basis of this university.

He noted that at the COP-28 and COP-29 summits in Dubai and Baku, as well as at other international forums Uzbekistan put forward a number of initiatives to address the consequences of the climate change.

Among them are the creation of an International Center for Damage and Loss Assessment, ensuring the safety of river ecosystems, the establishment of a Regional Hub for the implementation of water-saving technologies, the formation of a bank of plant genetic resources and others.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that the Regional Green Development Concept would be presented at the upcoming conference on global climate problems of Central Asia in Uzbekistan this year.

He also invited the summit delegates to the Global Youth Festival of Digital Green Initiatives, which will take place in the Aral Sea region on May 15, the International Climate Day.

In conclusion of his speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev once again emphasized the openness of New Uzbekistan to broad practical cooperation on the path of sustainable and green development.