SCO and UNEP approve environmental cooperation plan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  A high-level session titled “SCO–UNEP Environmental Partnership: Joint Actions for a Sustainable Future of the Region” was held on 22 April in Astana as part of the Regional Environmental Summit.

The platform brought together representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to discuss prospects for deepening cooperation in the environmental sphere.

Speaking at the event, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on environmental issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, noted that climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and water scarcity are creating new global challenges that require coordinated regional and international responses.

Special attention was given to Uzbekistan’s environmental policy. Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the country is implementing a comprehensive green transformation strategy aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and adapting to climate change.

Key initiatives include projects such as “Yashil Makon,” “Territory Free of Waste,” “Ecoculture,” “Bionasle,” and “Clean Air,” which cover afforestation, waste management, environmental education, biodiversity conservation, and air quality improvement.

It was noted that a significant number of SCO countries are located within the global dust belt, making joint efforts to combat desertification, dust and sand storms, and transboundary air pollution particularly relevant.

In this context, participants identified priority areas of cooperation, including the development of regional early warning systems for dust storms and air quality deterioration, strengthened collaboration in combating land degradation, expanded partnerships in biodiversity conservation, and improved mechanisms for reducing pollution, including plastic and hazardous waste management.

The importance of introducing modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and satellite data, to enhance environmental monitoring and risk forecasting was also emphasized.

Participants expressed confidence that combining the SCO’s regional platform with UNEP’s expertise would elevate environmental cooperation to a new level.

At the conclusion of the session, the Plan of Measures for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and UNEP was signed, serving as a practical tool for further partnership development.

The Uzbek side also invited international partners to participate in upcoming environmental events in the country, including the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility and the international exhibition “Eco Expo Central Asia 2026.”