President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed a regional tree-planting campaign called "Green Belt of Central Asia" as part of a large-scale greening program. The Uzbek president’s press service says that according to this initiative, such events could be held annually on the eve of the Navrouz holiday.
Mirziyoyev put forward the idea of the regional campaign during his speech at the plenary session of the Samarkand International Climate Forum on April 4.
The forum was attended by European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anoukladia Rossbach, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, and others.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the forum participants in a video message.
The Uzbek president emphasized that climate change issues are closely linked to food and energy security. According to him, fertile land is shrinking rapidly, and as a result, crop yields in Central Asia could drop by one-third in the next 25 years.
Therefore, he stressed, it is vital to unite scientific potential to increase the adaptability of forestry and the agricultural sector, and to strengthen food security under the "Horizon Europe" program.
Mirziyoyev added that Uzbekistan is taking appropriate measures. In particular, large-scale greening is being carried out under the "Yashil Makon" ("Green Space") program, with drought-resistant trees planted on more than 2 million hectares of desert land in the Aral Sea region.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, the president cited data showing that in 2024, the average global temperature rose for the first time by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. As a result, the negative impacts of climate crises are already being felt: forest fires, desertification, shrinking glaciers, deteriorating air quality, and water shortages.
He stated that these challenges must be tackled collectively, and highlighted successful partnerships with European experts on programs aimed at mitigating the desiccation of the Aral Sea, rational water use, and the expansion of clean energy sources. This cooperation, he noted, will certainly continue.
Mirziyoyev emphasized the shift to a resource-saving and environmentally friendly economic model, with "green" energy as a key element. He announced that Uzbekistan plans to increase the share of energy from renewable sources to 54% over the next five years. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 16 million tons.
Addressing the looming water shortage crisis, the head of state noted that by 2040, Central Asia will face high levels of water stress due to declining flows in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. To save resources, work is being done to line irrigation networks with concrete, and an industrial base is being created for the production of water-saving technologies. Thanks to these efforts, about 8 billion cubic meters of water were saved last year.
“We call for joining efforts to launch a Regional Program for the implementation of water-saving technologies in Central Asia,” proposed Mirziyoyev.
He also expressed interest in cooperation with the EU under the "Copernicus" program for satellite monitoring of glaciers and mountain systems in the region, and in strengthening scientific and expert collaboration on climate research.
In conclusion, Mirziyoyev reminded everyone of the shared goal — to do everything possible so that future generations can live in a sustainable, safe, and prosperous world.
