"Clean Air" Project: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Set a New Standard for Regional Eco-Policy
Uzbekistan
Central Asia is shifting toward decisive measures for atmospheric protection. During the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, the Second High-Level Dialogue took place, where regional environmental leaders, along with representatives from UNEP and the World Bank, discussed the creation of an interstate consortium to combat air pollution.
The situation has reached a tipping point: according to World Bank data, air pollution causes more than 65,000 premature deaths annually in the region, with economic losses exceeding $20 billion. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology of Uzbekistan, emphasized that amidst rapid urbanization and escalating climate risks, national efforts alone are no longer sufficient—a unified regional mechanism is essential.
A key initiative was the proposal by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to form the "Clean Air" consortium. Initially, the platform is planned to launch between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, with subsequent expansion to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The consortium will serve as a hub for unified monitoring, satellite data exchange, and coordinated responses to transboundary dust storms.
Uzbekistan is already demonstrating a systematic approach: a presidential decree dated March 25, 2026, launched a large-scale national project through 2030. The roadmap includes reducing harmful emissions by 10.5%, banning low-quality fuel (below AI-92), and relocating ecologically hazardous enterprises outside the capital city of Tashkent.
International partners, including Inger Andersen (UNEP) and Valerie Hickey (World Bank), welcomed the region’s commitment to integration. Experts believe that improving air quality is not only a health imperative but also a foundation for economic growth and competitiveness. The Astana dialogue laid the groundwork for moving from declarations to tangible transboundary projects that aim to make the skies over Central Asia cleaner.
A key initiative was the proposal by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to form the "Clean Air" consortium. Initially, the platform is planned to launch between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, with subsequent expansion to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The consortium will serve as a hub for unified monitoring, satellite data exchange, and coordinated responses to transboundary dust storms.
Uzbekistan is already demonstrating a systematic approach: a presidential decree dated March 25, 2026, launched a large-scale national project through 2030. The roadmap includes reducing harmful emissions by 10.5%, banning low-quality fuel (below AI-92), and relocating ecologically hazardous enterprises outside the capital city of Tashkent.
International partners, including Inger Andersen (UNEP) and Valerie Hickey (World Bank), welcomed the region’s commitment to integration. Experts believe that improving air quality is not only a health imperative but also a foundation for economic growth and competitiveness. The Astana dialogue laid the groundwork for moving from declarations to tangible transboundary projects that aim to make the skies over Central Asia cleaner.
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