Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 12 November, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at the plenary session of the World Leaders Summit within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku.

The event was attended by heads of state and government from over 80 countries, as well as leaders of prominent international organizations and financial institutions.

In his address, President Mirziyoyev congratulated President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan for the successful organization of the historic summit and expressed support for Azerbaijan's efforts to expand international cooperation in the fight against global climate threats.

The Uzbek President emphasized that climate change has become a major global challenge, directly impacting geopolitical tensions and exacerbating issues such as poverty, food and energy security, and access to water resources.

The consequences of climate change are particularly severe in Central Asia, where they hinder the improvement of living standards and the implementation of national development strategies.

The main goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global temperature rise to 1.5–2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

Uzbekistan has already initiated large-scale reforms aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. The country plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, with further commitments to be expanded by 2050. By that time, the share of "green" energy in the country is expected to reach 40%. Uzbekistan is creating clusters for the production of electric vehicles and "green" hydrogen, as well as hubs for solar and wind energy generation. The "Yashil Makon" program is actively promoting the development of green zones.

The country is also working on a joint regional climate strategy with neighboring states, and a multilateral agreement on the supply of "green" energy to Europe is expected to be signed in the coming days.

To effectively address climate challenges, Uzbekistan proposed several initiatives. Among them was the idea of establishing an International Center for Climate Loss and Damage Assessment to provide technical support to developing countries in identifying climate challenges.

President Mirziyoyev highlighted the need to develop universal approaches to the protection of transboundary water resources and the conservation of biodiversity. He suggested the development of a UN Declaration on commitments to ensure the health and environmental safety of river ecosystems.

Additionally, he proposed the creation of a regional gene bank in Uzbekistan to enhance plant resilience to climate change and an Innovative Agribusiness Hub under the UN for landlocked countries.

The Uzbek President also proposed the creation of an Alliance of Climate Capitals to exchange advanced knowledge and best practices for sustainable urban development in cities affected by climate change, with the first forum of the Alliance to be held in Tashkent.

In conclusion, President Mirziyoyev invited the participants of COP29 to join the Global Youth Festival of Digital "Green" Initiatives, which will take place on May 15 next year in the Aral Sea region in conjunction with International Climate Day.

The President emphasized Uzbekistan's readiness for open dialogue and partnership towards common prosperity and "green" development.