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On February 7, 2025, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued a decree "On the State Program for the Implementation of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy in the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy". The decree outlines a number of priority directions for the country's development, related to improving the ecological appearance of neighborhoods, increasing the level of street greening, creating an ecologically clean and comfortable living environment, strengthening public health, forming an ecological way of life, and creating conditions for the realization of human potential.

Sustainable financing is provided for projects aimed at the widespread introduction of the principles of a "green economy", increasing the share of renewable energy in the republic's energy balance, protecting, reproducing and preserving the flora and fauna for future generations, preserving biodiversity, and adapting the economy to climate change.

In the context of the country's comprehensive "green transformation", a number of specific decisions have been made to strengthen the national environmental protection system. According to Uzbek media reports, from May 1, 2025, the launch of certain types of industrial production will be banned in Tashkent, Nukus, and regional centers. This applies to the production of asbestos and cement, leather tanning, the burning of any type of coal without the installation of highly efficient dust and gas cleaning systems, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy plants, the production of materials containing toxic impurities and chemicals, and enterprises for the processing and incineration of waste belonging to I and II hazard classes.

By October 1, 2025, the ministries of ecology, economy, investment, industry and trade, together with the hokimiyats (local administrations), were obliged to submit proposals for the phased relocation of these enterprises and high-energy-consuming facilities from Tashkent, Nukus, and regional centers.

From the beginning of August, a mechanism for encouraging enterprises of I and II categories that implement environmental monitoring and purification systems is being introduced in the country. In the first stage, their debts on compensation payments for damage caused to nature will be written off and up to 50% of compensation payments will be returned within two years. In the second stage, enterprises that additionally install dust-collecting, gas-cleaning and local water-treatment equipment will be able to count on the return of up to 70% of compensation payments within two years.

It is also planned to introduce a system of mandatory insurance for environmental damage caused by enterprises and organizations engaged in economic activities. By November 1, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change will develop a draft law that will oblige enterprises to compensate for damage caused to nature.

ORIENT

Photo: KHBS