At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for urgent action on climate change, highlighting its severe impact on Central Asia. Speaking to an audience of over 80 world leaders and delegates, Mirziyoyev emphasized that climate change is now a significant global threat, exacerbating geopolitical tensions.

Mirziyoyev’s arrival in Azerbaijan followed the Arab-Muslim summit in Saudi Arabia. In his speech, he noted that Central Asia faces pronounced challenges from climate change, which is increasingly affecting quality of life and posing new obstacles to the region’s national development strategies. “Our primary goal under the Paris Agreement is to prevent rapid temperature increases and to stabilize the climate within a 1.5-2 degree range this century,” Mirziyoyev stated.

The president announced Uzbekistan’s ambitious targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030. To achieve this, Uzbekistan is pursuing wide-ranging reforms to promote carbon neutrality. “We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality through expanding green energy sources. We aim to increase the share of renewable energy to 40%, while also advancing electric vehicle and green hydrogen clusters, and establishing solar and wind energy hubs. Our Green Space program will further expand green areas throughout Uzbekistan,” he said. Mirziyoyev added that Uzbekistan is working on a Regional Climate Strategy with neighboring countries and will soon sign a multilateral agreement to export green energy to Europe.

Mirziyoyev called for increased support from developed nations and international organizations to help developing countries, like Uzbekistan, address climate threats. He also raised the ongoing crisis of the disappearing Aral Sea, a prominent environmental disaster for the region. “The loss of the Aral Sea in a single generation is a global tragedy, and we need global action to mitigate the consequences,” he emphasized.

On November 13, Mirziyoyev, alongside the presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, signed an agreement on “Strategic Partnership for Developing and Transmitting Green Energy.” This initiative will enable Central Asian countries to export renewable energy generated from solar and wind sources to Europe. According to the agreement, the green energy project is expected to yield substantial environmental benefits, reduce climate impact, and create tens of thousands of jobs, while boosting energy infrastructure and advancing technological and business ties in the region.

On the second day of his visit, President Mirziyoyev met with leaders of various countries and international organizations and visited Uzbekistan’s national pavilion at COP29. The summit is set to continue until November 22, where global leaders will further discuss climate policies and collaborative strategies.