Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov spoke about the factors influencing air pollution in Tashkent.

According to him, the main reasons are rapid unapproved construction, cutting down trees, and the use of fuel that does not meet Euro 4 standards.

He noted that in 2022, 715 thousand vehicles moved in Tashkent, emitting 403 thousand tons of pollutants into the atmosphere. In 2023, the number of vehicles increased by 8% to 775 thousand, and emissions amounted to 435 thousand tons.

The minister also highlighted the growth in the use of coal fuel: from 3.9 million tons in 2019 to 6.7 million tons in 2023. When burning 10 tons of coal fuel, a significant amount of harmful substances is released.

To combat air pollution, it is proposed to take measures such as a ban on the use of low-quality fuel, limiting freight transport during peak hours, switching public transport to electricity and gas, creating “green belts” around the city and others.

Minister Aziz Abduhakimo also proposed a moratorium on the construction of cement factories, especially in mountainous areas, where eco-tourism could be developed to protect health and nature.