by Ameya Sathaye, Editor-in-Chief
Sarkaritel.com / Diplomacyindia.com
Samarkand, April 04 THe Samarkand Climate Forum 2025 started with the inaugural address by the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev today in the ancient city of Samarkand,
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said from early centuries has been one of the centers generating new ideas and knowledge, trust and constructive partnership, we can jointly develop efficient measures to address modern climate challenges.
President in this address said that “It is estimated that by 2040, the countries of Central Asia will face an “extremely high” level of water stress.”with to the reduction of the flows of Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers, To mitigate this President emphasized Uzbekistan’s goal of moving towards a clean and efficient economy. He outlined plans to boost the share of renewable energy to 54% by the year 2030. This shift aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by almost 16 million tons. Furthermore, the president reiterated Uzbekistan’s pledge to achieve a 35% reduction in emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
Addrssing the Samarkand Climate Forum Uzbek President echoed “average global temperature rose by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius and past decade was the hottest period in the entire history of meteorological observations.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressing the forum highlighted that today all of us feel the negative effect of climate crises – growing scales of wildfires and desertification, melting of glaciers, increasing shortage of water resources, air pollution.
President Mirziyoyev called for starting an annual tree-planting campaign called the “Green Belt of Central Asia” during Navruz to foster regional unity and mitigate desertification.
President Mirzoyoyev urging world leaders, development partners, and environmental advocates to join forces in addressing the escalating impacts of climate change across Central Asia and beyond.
The forum was represented by European Union, Central Asian nations, United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, and global environmental organizations
Mirziyoyev commended the approval of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and emphasized once more Uzbekistan’s willingness to pursue collective eco-friendly objectives.
The President highlighted that Central Asia regiion is expected to reach a population of 100 million in the next 25 years while already more than 20% of land is degraded and suggested yields may drop by a third over this time, if no action is taken.
He sought increased collaboration in science to improve adaptive strategies for agriculture and forestry, as well as greater participation in the EU’s HORIZON EUROPE initiative to enhance food security.
He suggested the creation of the Secretariat for the EU’s Water-Energy-Climate Change Initiative in Tashkent to further strengthen international collaboration and gather resources, technology, and expertise to promote sustainability in the region.
Addressing the forum President Mirzoyoyev said Uzbekistan has taken significant steps to improve water efficiency by implementing concrete irrigation channels and widely adopting water-saving technologies which has resutled in savings of eight billion cubic meters of water in just the last year which have been applied across two million hectares of farmland.
The President highlighted that to fostering regional climate research, creation of Climate Residence at the Green University in Tashkent.
In his concluding remark at the Climate Forum the President Shavkat Mirzoyoyev invoked a timeless proverb “We do not inherit Earth from our ancestors—we borrow it from our children. Our mission today is to ensure that future generations inherit a world that is sustainable, safe, and full of opportunity.”
The Samarkand Climate Forum will be creating new frameworks for collaborative action, green investment, and resilience-building across Central Asia. The summit will be a key opportunity for the EU and Central Asia to demonstrate their geopolitical interest in intensifying bilateral relations and enhancing regional cooperation.
The forum is expected to conclude with presenting the final document of the Samarkand Climate Forum – the Regional Concept of “Green” Development, which will lay the foundation for the formation of a unified regional vision of the Central Asian countries in the field of climate change. It will outline the approaches of leading international organizations to solving the environmental problems of the region.
Waterman of India, Rajendra Singh speaking at the Samarkand Climate Forum said “Central Asia is currently facing the crisis of climate change. Its biggest impact is on those deprived poor people who have not taken much from this soil, earth and nature but have given much to it through their labour. They have lived in forests and villages but those who have exploited, encroached and polluted this nature are still considering themselves elite and are not giving up the habit of taking from nature, whereas this nature has forgotten itself due to compulsion.
More than 20% of the land has become non-productive. The number of floods, droughts and storms is increasing. Helplessness and chronic diseases are increasing in human life and troubled by this, the rural society is leaving its villages and increasing the population of cities. The cities are growing very fast. They have nothing left to feed themselves. They are running their lives by looting others. In such bad conditions, today in this conference of Central Asia,
The Waterman of India said ?let us come together to build a better future and not only talk but also make transactions with nature prosperous and make it prosperous in happiness.”