Cooperation with the UNCCD will be strengthened in attracting international financing for ecological projects
Aziz Abduhakimov, Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Cooperation with the UNCCD will be further strengthened in attracting international financing for ecological projects
The Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov, held a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Yasmin Fouad. During this dialogue, which took place in Mongolia within the framework of the COP17 conference, issues of further developing regional cooperation on restoring degraded lands, combating desertification, and reducing the negative impact of sand and dust storms were reviewed.
At the meeting, particular emphasis was placed on the transition from strategic planning to the stage of developing and financing practical projects. Such projects will be aimed at restoring land resources, increasing the resilience of ecosystems, and strengthening Central Asia's resilience to ecological risks. Additionally, Yasmin Fouad was briefed on the ecological reforms led by President Sh. Mirziyoyev.
At the conclusion of the meeting, an agreement was reached to form a portfolio of regional investment projects with the support of the UNCCD and its Global Mechanism. It is planned to attract international financial institutions and climate funds to finance these projects, including the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and other international partners.
One of the important areas of cooperation is the mobilization of financial, technical, and expert support for the establishment of the Regional Early Warning Center for Sand and Dust Storms.
This system will serve to expand the capabilities for monitoring and forecasting sand and dust storms in the region, increase the efficiency of timely warning for the population and relevant services, as well as reduce the socio-economic and ecological consequences of these natural phenomena.
During the meeting, a proposal was also put forward to form a Central Asian investment program aimed at comprehensively addressing problems related to dust-salt emissions and land degradation. This program could combine projects in three priority areas:
• reducing dust-salt emissions in the region;
• restoring saxaul ecosystems in the Kyzylkum region;
• developing a regional early warning system for sand and dust storms.
The implementation of the program envisages the use of international financing, technical expertise, and modern technologies for monitoring and restoring ecosystems.
During the meeting, Yasmin Fouad particularly highlighted the growing role of "Green University" as a scientific and educational center in the field of ecology and sustainable development in Central Asia. In this context, the importance of developing scientific potential, training qualified specialists, and forming a modern expert base to address transboundary ecological problems was noted.
Uzbekistan is committed to consistently developing regional cooperation in matters of combating land degradation, desertification, and sand-dust storms. The formation of a unified portfolio of investment projects will allow combining the efforts of Central Asian states and international partners, as well as implementing major ecological initiatives. The main task at the new stage of cooperation is to transform regional ecological priorities into concrete projects, define clear mechanisms for their financing, identify responsible executors, and achieve measurable results.