Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 14 January, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit held in the capital of the UAE.

The summit brought together heads of state, government leaders, and heads of international organizations, including UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, and high-ranking representatives from Finland and other countries.

Participants focused on key topics such as sustainable development, promoting innovation, advancing the green economy, and strengthening regional connectivity.

In his speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted that transitioning to a low-carbon economy and diversifying energy sources are essential for mitigating the effects of climate change. He emphasized that Uzbekistan’s strategic goal is to build a resource-efficient economy and achieve environmental sustainability.

– "The year 2025 has been declared the Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy in Uzbekistan," said President Mirziyoyev.

He outlined the country’s long-term low-carbon development strategy and the National Green Financing Program. Over the next five years, green components will account for 50% of investment projects, and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 35% by 2030.

The President also highlighted the "Yashil Makon" (Green Space) initiative, which aims to green 30% of urban areas and promote water-saving technologies in agriculture.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev elaborated on Uzbekistan’s progress in green energy development. Over the past five years, the country has attracted about $20 billion in investments, resulting in the creation of 9.6 GW of energy capacity, including 14 solar and wind power plants.

He announced that more than 50 major energy projects worth $26 billion are being implemented in partnership with foreign investors. By 2030, renewable energy will account for 54% of the country’s energy mix.

Special attention was given to cooperation with the UAE. Through partnership with Masdar, five facilities with a total capacity of 1.5 GW have been launched. Future plans include additional projects with a capacity of 1.6 GW and the construction of 520 MWh energy storage systems.

President Mirziyoyev underscored the importance of deepening regional cooperation, proposing to transform Central Asia into a green economy hub. A recently signed multilateral agreement with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will enable the export of green energy to Europe.

– "We are interested in jointly realizing Central Asia’s potential in solar, wind, and hydropower, as well as in developing green hydrogen production," stated Mirziyoyev.

According to him, Uzbekistan’s potential includes 500 GW of solar, 100 GW of wind, and 10 GW of hydropower capacity. Additionally, the region holds significant reserves of uranium and other strategic resources.

The President invited leading research centers and experts to collaborate with the Green University in Tashkent and proposed creating an International Scientific Network to combat land degradation and desertification.

He recalled Uzbekistan’s initiatives at COP-28 and COP-29, including the establishment of an International Center for Climate Damage Assessment and a regional hub for water-saving technologies.

In conclusion, President Mirziyoyev invited summit participants to a conference on climate issues in Central Asia to be held in Uzbekistan and to the Global Youth Festival of Digital Green Initiatives scheduled for 15 May in the Aral Sea region.

– "New Uzbekistan is open to broad cooperation in sustainable and green development," Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded.