On the eve of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed annually on 7 September, an open dialogue titled “Clean Air, Healthy Citites and Climate Resilience” was held at Tashkent’s Central Eco Park.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, the International Public Foundation Zamin, the Embassy of Finland to Central Asia, the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The dialogue brought together representatives of government bodies, international organizations, the expert community and civil society. Participants discussed practical solutions to improve air quality, strengthen urban resilience and promote evidence-based urban planning.
“Today, the Clean Air Initiative is a pressing issue not only for Uzbekistan, but for the entire region. That is why extensive efforts are being carried out in our country in this regard. In particular, on the initiative of the Ministry of Ecology, campaigns such as “Car-Free Day” and the “Clean Air” Month are being organized. Moreover, the Ministry and its regional departments are conducting regular inspections to identify and eliminate sources of harmful emissions into the atmosphere,” said Alisher Salomov, Advisor to the Minister of Ecology.
Aziz Ganiev, Director of the Zamin International Public Foundation, emphasized that in recent years Uzbekistan has established a unified electronic automated air monitoring system, introduced international standard and installed 23 automatic stations integrated into the global network. “This is a major achievement; however, our ecosystems remain under pressure from pollutants. That is why joint efforts and dialogues in this format are so important,” he noted.
Katja Loven, Head of Energy and Air Quality at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, highlighted that Finland and Uzbekistan have been cooperating in the field of clean air for nearly a decade. “Today we are working together on early warning systems for air quality and meteorology, as well as conducting air quality assessments in Termez and Namangan. These scientific data will enable us to develop effective measures to reduce emissions and achieve cleaner air,” she said.
