Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  The entire nation is currently celebrating the Constitution Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the people with a congratulatory message highlighting achievements in the political, social, and economic spheres.

The President paid special attention to environmental protection and the increased responsibility of the state in preserving it. Indeed, for the first time, the new version of the Constitution enshrines citizens’ environmental rights and outlines the state’s obligations to protect the environment and maintain ecological balance.

This is reflected in Article 49, which states: “The state, in accordance with the principle of sustainable development, implements measures to improve, restore, and protect the environment and maintain ecological balance.”

In recent years, unprecedented measures have been taken by the state to ensure citizens’ environmental rights.

First, the legal and regulatory framework has been significantly expanded and strengthened. For the first time, environmental issues and water conservation have been identified as priority areas in the national “Uzbekistan-2030” strategy. The foundations of state environmental policy have been updated, as reflected in several key documents:

The Environmental Protection Concept until 2030;

The Water Resources Development Concept for 2020-2030;

The Agricultural Development Strategy for 2020-2030;

The Green Economy Transition Strategy for 2019-2030;

The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for 2019-2028, among others.

To implement these programs effectively and foster the development of agriculture, water management, energy, and environmental protection, over 20 official documents have been adopted, outlining more than 150 measures aimed at the "green" transformation of the economy. Additionally, efforts are underway to draft a Water Code and an Environmental Code.

Second, institutional reforms are being carried out. In 2023, the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection was transformed into the Ministry of Natural Resources, which was later renamed the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change to reflect its expanded responsibilities.

Currently, the Ministry of Ecology serves as the authorized body for state management in ecology, environmental protection, the rational use of natural resources, and their restoration.

The prioritization of environmental issues is further underscored by the establishment of the Climate Council under the President of Uzbekistan. The Council’s primary tasks include:

Formulating a unified state policy for mitigating and adapting to climate change and coordinating the efforts of ministries and agencies in this direction;

Monitoring Uzbekistan’s commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement;

Identifying foreign policy priorities for addressing climate change;

Improving the regulatory and legal framework, among other tasks.

Third, the system for enhancing environmental education and culture is being improved.

As part of the transition to a green economy, the Concept for the Development of Environmental Education was adopted in 2019. Its primary goal is to instill ecological knowledge, awareness, and culture in the younger generation while advancing ecological science through the use of innovative technologies.

Subjects such as Natural Sciences and Environmental Studies have been introduced in primary schools to nurture children’s love for nature, a sense of responsibility, and the importance of environmental stewardship from an early age. In 2023, the Central Asian University for Environmental Studies and Climate Change (Green University) was established as part of efforts to transform the ecology and environmental protection sectors.

Today, the positive results of Uzbekistan’s environmental policy, founded on principles enshrined in the Constitution, are already evident. However, further reforms are needed to improve the situation.

In this context, as President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted, the declaration of 2025 as the Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy will serve as a vital foundation for implementing the relevant constitutional norms and principles.

Lobar Umarova,
Chief Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan