President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit held in the capital of the United Arab Emirates on January 14.
In his speech, Mirziyoyev noted that nowadays diversification of energy sources and drastic reduction of the share of hydrocarbons are the main conditions for mitigating the consequences of climate change, ensuring sustainable development and global security.
He emphasized that the strategic goal of New Uzbekistan is to ensure environmental sustainability and economic growth through the transition to a resource-saving, “green” model of development.
That is why 2025 has been declared the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy” in Uzbekistan, underlined Mirziyoyev, adding that the country has developed a long-term Strategy of low-carbon development and the National Program of “green” financing. In the next 5 years, “green” components in investment projects will be increased up to 50 percent.
Work is underway to introduce national systems for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and emissions trading. It is planned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2030.
“Over the past 5 years, almost $20 billion of foreign investments have been attracted to the energy sector, modern energy capacities of 9.6 gigawatts have been put into operation. In particular, 14 solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, as well as 2 energy storage systems for 300 megawatts have been created,” Mirziyoyev said.
Currently, more than 50 large projects worth over $26 billion are being implemented jointly with foreign partners to produce a total of 24 gigawatts of electricity. By 2030, it is planned to increase the share of renewable energy sources to 54 percent.
Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of increasing regional cooperation to turn Central Asia into one of the centers of development of “green” economy and “clean energy”. The first steps have been taken to revive the Great Silk Road through energy interconnectivity. The multilateral agreement recently signed by Uzbekistan with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan within the framework of COP-29 will allow for the export of green energy to Europe.
Mirziyoyev also informed that the regional concept of “green” development will be presented at the upcoming conference on global climate problems in Central Asia, to be held in Uzbekistan this year.
