Three environmental heavyweights took to the stage at the opening ceremony of Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand on 2 June: Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP); and Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President
Hosting the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly and Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand this month, Uzbekistan seized the opportunity to advance its ambitions to become a world leader in green finance and climate innovation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s speech at the opening ceremony of the GEF Assembly on 4 June, 2026 was delivered by
From May 30 to June 6, Samarkand became a global platform for discussing the key environmental challenges of our time, hosting the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the 71st GEF Council Meeting. For the first time in history, the Assembly was held in Central Asia, bringing together representatives from 186 countries,
Mountains are not passive backdrops to human history; they are dynamic, living systems that have shaped civilizations, economies, and ecosystems for millennia. Nowhere is this more evident than in Central Asia, home to some of the world’s most formidable ranges—the Pamirs, Tian Shan, Hindu Kush, Altai, and Ural. These mountains are more than geological formations;
On the sidelines of the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Samarkand, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new initiative, “Supporting Implementation of the Stockholm Convention through the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in Uzbekistan,” aimed at strengthening
On June 3, on the sidelines of the 71st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, the Government of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), officially launched the preparatory phase of the Nature4Health Uzbekistan initiative. The launch marks Uzbekistan’s official accession to the second phase of Nature4Health (N4H)
On June 2, the official opening ceremony of the international environmental exhibition Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 was held in Samarkand. The event brought together representatives from over 100 countries, heads of international organizations, investors, manufacturers of eco-friendly products, eco-innovators, as well as government officials and members of the expert community, according to the National
On June 2, within the framework of the Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 international exhibition, a side event titled “Islands of Resilience: Conserving Ecosystem Services in the Lower Amu Darya and Aral Sea Basin” took place in Samarkand. The event was dedicated to the restoration of ecosystems in the Aral Sea region, sustainable land and
The 71st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has officially opened in Samarkand ahead of the Eighth GEF Assembly and the Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 international exhibition. The event brings together representatives from 186 GEF member countries, international organizations, financial institutions, environmental agencies, civil society and the private sector, according to the
Representatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Government of Japan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, development partners, and local stakeholders gathered in Tashkent this week for the inception workshop of the recently launched project “Strengthening Water Resource Governance and Resilience to Climate Change in the Aral Sea Region,” UNDP Uzbekistan reported. Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Kazakhstan has launched the Rain Enforcement Program aimed at increasing water levels in reservoirs and providing more irrigation water to farmlands in the country’s arid southern region that experiences chronic water shortages and limits during summer growing seasons. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the program is designed to mitigate drought
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the Government of Japan have signed an agreement to launch a new US$3 million joint initiative to support Kazakhstan in addressing the declining water levels of the Caspian Sea through improved water governance and monitoring, and regional cooperation, UNDP Kazakhstan reported. This initiative promotes environmental resilience,
On May 21-23, government representatives, international organizations, tourism professionals, civil society organizations, and local communities gathered in Min-Kush village for the Touristic Forum “Development of Min-Kush Village through Sustainable Tourism – Revival of Forgotten Cities,” UNDP in Kyrgyzstan reported. The forum served as a platform to discuss sustainable tourism, local economic development, and new opportunities
On May 20, participants of the youth campaign “Train to the Aral Sea” departed for the Republic of Karakalpakstan to take part in cultural, educational, environmental, and tourism-related events aimed at introducing young people to the tourism potential of the Aral Sea region, the historical and cultural heritage of the area, and the environmental challenges
From May 29 to 31, Tashkent will host the international exhibition “Cat X Show & Cat X Seminar”. The event is recognized as the largest platform in the country dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership, advancing feline science, and supporting initiatives aimed at protecting and caring for stray animals, the National Committee on Ecology and
The Aral Sea region faces a complex combination of interconnected challenges, including environmental degradation, water scarcity, declining agricultural productivity, limited access to essential services, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. In response to these challenges, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and the Council of Ministers of
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are continuing their joint efforts to strengthen the national system for monitoring, forecasting, and early warning of climate-related emergencies, UNDP Kyrgyzstan reported. As part of this cooperation, a new component of the early warning system has been commissioned in
On May 18, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the Leaders’ Summit held as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku. At the forum, participants discussed sustainable urban development, expanding access to affordable housing, improving the quality of the urban environment, strengthening climate resilience, and enhancing housing finance
The delegation of Uzbekistan, headed by Adviser to the President on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, participated in the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests held in New York City, the National Committee reported. The forum brought together delegations from UN Member
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, met with the leadership of Vision Invest and SUEZ to discuss the implementation of a project aimed at establishing a high-tech industrial waste management cluster in Uzbekistan, the National Committee reported. The project