Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 29 September, the National Strategy and Roadmap for promoting a culture of sustainable development and involving children and youth of Uzbekistan in the climate agenda was signed by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, Ministry of Youth Policy and Sports.

The initiators of the National Strategy were eco-activists, including participants in the “Eco-schools Uzbekistan” project who participated in the signing ceremony. Eco-activists became a full-fledged party, taking part in the development of the Strategy, taking into account the recommendations of GEP, with the support of international experts from UNICEF and UNESCO.

The head of the UNICEF Office in Uzbekistan, Munir Mammadzade, welcoming the adoption of the National Strategy, noted: “This significant document was developed and signed not only by ministers, but also by the children themselves. We believe this strategy will create a framework for future-proof development where every child and young person can contribute to the well-being and sustainability of our society. I am confident that this document will become exemplary and I hope that children and youth of Uzbekistan will be able to share this best practice on the sidelines of COP28.”

The strategy recognizes the role of children and young people in combating climate change and their active participation in this area, including reorienting the focus of teaching from providing knowledge to working through problems and finding possible solutions.

The strategy should serve as a supporting document for the targeted formation of a system of “green” education and sustainable development. The document emphasizes the basic principles of quality environmental education: continuity, interdisciplinarity, fundamentality and complexity.

The main objectives of the youth strategy are:

- development of a national policy and action plan to promote green education, as well as the creation of the necessary training resources;

- developing partnerships and cooperation between different stakeholders to support and enhance the efforts of children and young people in the fight against climate change and recognizing the important role of cooperation between generations;

- creation of a “green” community in preschool and school education institutions.