AKIPRESS.COM - The Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction (MEDPR) of Uzbekistan, the World Bank, and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) held the last meeting in a series of 11 policy dialogue roundtables on Green Growth and Climate Change on February 17. The event focused on the development of a strategic framework to accelerate Uzbekistan on a path to green transition.

From August 2021 to February 2022 Tashkent hosted the series of policy dialogues that facilitated an unprecedented multisectoral engagement by bringing together members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, officials representing various ministries, state agencies, and municipal authorities, as well as leading national and international experts, academia, international organizations and financial institutions, and other stakeholders.

The policy dialogue roundtables, among other issues, focused on supporting the Government of Uzbekistan in building a green, just, and low-carbon industry and economy; developing climate resilience; mobilizing green finance; and helping elaborate a roadmap for accelerating the transition towards green growth and climate change.

These dialogues have led to the establishment of the Interagency Council for Green Economy, a technical inter-agency working group, and multistakeholder thematic working groups. As a result of this momentum, the green transition has been reflected as a priority in the new national development strategy for 2022-2026 and a new unit on the green economy has been established within the MEDPR.

The 11th and final roundtable also marked the endorsement of policy recommendations and sectoral action plans. It has also launched stakeholder consultations for the Green Transition Framework to implement the green economy strategy for 2019-30, which the MEDPR will lead through the first quarter of 2022.

Uzbekistan stands to gain enormously from ‘greening’ its ambitious economic and market transition based on the sustainable and efficient use of natural and energy resources that minimizes pollution, reduces climate and environmental impacts, and strengthens resilience to natural disasters and climate change. It would allow the country to transition away from carbon-intensive growth and become a green growth champion in Central Asia.