Uzbek president proposes Samarkand as Central Asia’s green capital

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening environmental cooperation across Central Asia, including a plan to designate Samarkand as the “Green Investment and Innovation Capital of Central Asia.”

Speaking at the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Samarkand, Mirziyoyev highlighted the growing environmental challenges facing the region, including climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and the rapid melting of glaciers, Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media.

According to the Uzbek leader, the number of people living under conditions of severe water stress in Central Asia could reach 75 million by 2050 if current trends continue.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan views environmental transformation as a new model for national development. As part of its long-term strategy, the country plans to increase the share of protected natural areas to 21 percent by 2030, reduce harmful atmospheric emissions by 10.5 percent, and establish dendrological and botanical gardens in all regions of the country.

Among the new proposals announced at the forum were the creation of the Ulugbek Sustainable Development Research Institute, the establishment of a National Centre for Hydrometeorology and Climate Change, and the launch of an interstate “Clean Air” consortium aimed at addressing regional environmental concerns.

The president also declared Uzbekistan’s readiness to join the ranks of donor countries supporting the Global Environment Facility and to contribute to joint environmental projects across Central Asia.

Mirziyoyev said the Samarkand assembly should serve as a platform for building a new architecture of environmental cooperation in the region and advancing collective responses to shared ecological challenges.

By Vafa Guliyeva