The European Union and Tajikistan on December 10 marked the successful completion of two newly constructed pipelines in the city of Istiklol (formerly Taboshar), an important milestone under the EU’s long-standing commitment to improving environmental safety and addressing uranium legacy sites in Central Asia, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan reported. The opening ceremony,
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov last week met with Dana Kadyrbek, a student at Almaty Gymnasium No. 79 who created a device for collecting water from the atmosphere using modern nanomaterials. The device effectively absorbs and condenses moisture from the air and works without connection to the electrical grid, according to
In recent months, the issue of air quality in Tashkent has become a focus of public attention. Some news outlets and social media reported that emissions from greenhouses located on the Kazakh side of the border may be one of the causes of the Tashkent smog. This suggestion has sparked widespread controversy as environmental issues
On December 3, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev listened to proposals aimed at improving transportation management and reducing traffic congestion in Tashkent. In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing public transportation in the capital. The bus fleet has doubled to nearly 1,900 vehicles, and intervals have been reduced from 30 to 15 minutes.
During the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) in Samarkand, a meeting took place between Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President on Ecology and Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and Amna bint Abdullah Al-Dahak Al
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan have signed a Statement of Intent to join efforts under the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) initiative, UNDP Uzbekistan reported. The document was signed by Mr. Anas Fayyad Qarman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, and
On the sidelines of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20), an event was held dedicated to the presentation of the Atlas of Environmental Changes of Uzbekistan. It brought together representatives of government agencies, international organizations, research institutes, and the
A side event titled “Saiga Antelope: New Challenges” was held in Samarkand, organized by the National Committee of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Climate Change together with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. The event took place within the framework of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade
A major new environmental initiative has been launched in response to increasing pressure on Central Asia’s water and land resources, the growing impacts of climate change, land degradation, and more frequent droughts. The Central Asian Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) Program, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the National Committee of
Senior officials from across Central Asia gathered on November 23 in Samarkand for a high-level ministerial meeting on “Central Asia’s Commitment to Snow Leopard and Mountain Landscape Resilience: From Policy to Practice — Monitoring, Funding, and Action for Regulated Wildlife Trade.” The event took place ahead of the 20th meeting of the Conference of the
As part of the High-Level Dialogue on enhancing the strategic impact of the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES, a signing ceremony was held for the Samarkand Declaration and the Regional Cooperation Action Plan for 2026–2032 to support the sustainable use of wildlife and plant resources and combat illegal trade in wild animals and
On 24 November, the official opening ceremony of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) took place in Samarkand. CITES CoP20 marks the first large-scale session of the Convention ever held in Central Asia. The forum has brought together more
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment of the Republic of Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation for Flood Forecasting and Prevention through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology. The document was signed during Korea International Water Week in Daegu, South Korea.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $56.4 million program to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan boost their capacity to respond to disasters. Both countries are vulnerable to disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but lack the fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to effectively respond to hazards. The Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program will enhance their
At a high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, underscored Central Asia’s acute vulnerability to climate change, noting accelerating land degradation and diminishing water resources. He reported that regional temperatures have already risen by 2.2 °C and that
The Central Asian-German Institute for the Protection of Ecosystems and Biodiversity has officially opened at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty. The new institute’s goal is the scientifically based development of initiatives aimed at ensuring ecosystem sustainability and preserving biodiversity in Central Asian countries. The institute will serve as a platform for strengthening environmental cooperation
A policy dialogue held last week marked a key milestone in Uzbekistan’s efforts to implement Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, advancing the country’s participation in international carbon markets and access to global climate finance. Organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkmenistan has announced the approval of its new Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2026–2030, marking the next phase of partnership with the Turkmen Government, civil society, the private sector, and international development partners. Building on the successful results of the previous programme cycle, the new CPD reinforces UNDP’s commitment
On November 4, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha. The forum was attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as heads of state and government, representatives of international and regional organizations. In
As part of the official visit of the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, to Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan–Finland Business Forum was held in Tashkent. During the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan and the Finnish company EPSE Oy on “Cooperation in Establishing the
