Shavkat Mirziyoyev: "Green development in Uzbekistan has been elevated to a nationwide movement."

According to the forum's agenda, participants discussed issues related to sustainable development, the promotion of innovation, the "green" economy, and regional interconnectedness.

In his speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that currently, diversifying energy sources and significantly reducing the share of hydrocarbons are essential conditions for mitigating the impacts of climate change, ensuring sustainable development, and global security.

It was highlighted that the strategic goal of New Uzbekistan is to ensure ecological sustainability and economic growth through a transition to a resource-saving, "green" development model.

- That is why the year 2025 has been declared the "Year of Environmental Protection and the 'Green' Economy" in Uzbekistan, - stressed Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that the country has developed a long-term Low Carbon Development Strategy and a National Program for "Green" Financing. Over the next five years, the "green" components in investment projects will be increased to 50 percent.

Work is underway to implement national systems for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and trading emission quotas. By 2030, it is planned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent, with a subsequent phased increase of this indicator.

As part of the "Yashil Makon" program, efforts will be made to green at least 30 percent of urban areas. Systematic measures are being taken to achieve 100 percent coverage of agriculture with water-saving technologies.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev drew attention to the rapid development of "green" capacities to fully meet the energy needs of the country's rapidly growing economy.

- Over the past five years, nearly 20 billion dollars in foreign investments have been attracted to the energy sector, with modern energy capacities of 9.6 gigawatts brought into operation. In particular, 14 solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts have been created, along with 2 energy storage systems of 300 megawatts, - noted the head of state.

Currently, more than 50 large projects worth over 26 billion dollars are being implemented in collaboration with foreign partners to produce a total of 24 gigawatts of electricity. By 2030, it is planned to increase the share of renewable energy sources to 54 percent.

- Today, "green" development in Uzbekistan has been elevated to the level of a nationwide movement, - stated Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The head of our state emphasized the importance of enhancing regional cooperation to transform Central Asia into one of the centers for the development of the "green" economy and "clean energy."

Initial steps have been taken to revive the Great Silk Road through energy interconnectedness. The recently signed multilateral agreement with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan within the framework of COP-29 will enable the export of "green" energy to Europe.

- I want to particularly emphasize that the United Arab Emirates is our reliable and strategic partner in the field of "green" energy, - stated the leader of Uzbekistan.

In recent years, the investment portfolio with the Emirates has exceeded 26 billion dollars. The driving force behind this partnership is projects in renewable energy.

In collaboration with Masdar, 5 power generation facilities with a total capacity of 1.5 gigawatts have been commissioned. Three projects for creating generating capacities of 1.6 gigawatts will be implemented, and energy storage systems with a capacity of about 520 megawatts per hour will be built.

Similar projects are also being carried out in collaboration with other leading Emirati companies, as well as partners from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and China.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed Uzbekistan's interest in jointly realizing the vast potential of Central Asia in solar, hydropower, and wind energy, as well as in the production of "green" hydrogen.

According to preliminary estimates, Uzbekistan alone has the potential to produce 500 gigawatts of solar energy, 100 gigawatts of wind energy, and 10 gigawatts of hydropower.

The region is rich in vast reserves of uranium and other crucial strategic raw materials.

- In this direction, we are ready to provide our foreign partners with the most favorable conditions, - emphasized the leader of Uzbekistan.

He called on leading scientific centers, experts, and scholars participating in the forum to actively collaborate with the newly established "Green" University in Tashkent in implementing research and innovation programs. It was proposed to create an International Research Network on combating land degradation and desertification based at the university.

It was noted that at the COP-28 and COP-29 summits in Dubai and Baku, as well as at other international forums, Uzbekistan has put forward a number of initiatives to combat the negative effects of global climate change.

Among them are the establishment of an International Center for Damage and Loss Assessment, ensuring the safety of river ecosystems, establishing a Regional Hub for the implementation of water-saving technologies, forming a bank of genetic resources of plants, and more.

- We are ready to start practical work in these areas with all our partners, - declared the President of Uzbekistan.

The head of state announced that at the upcoming conference on global climate issues in Central Asia, which will take place in Uzbekistan this year, the Regional Concept for "Green" Development will be presented.

He also invited representatives of the countries participating in the summit to the Global Youth Festival of Digital "Green" Initiatives, which will be held in the Aral Sea region on May 15 – on International Climate Day.

In conclusion, Shavkat Mirziyoyev once again emphasized the openness of New Uzbekistan for broad practical cooperation on the path of sustainable and "green" development.