Financing environmental initiatives in Central Asia discussed in Tashkent
On March 11, Tashkent hosted the "High-Level Policy Dialogue: Expanding Finance and Investment to Achieve Environmental Goals in Central Asia." The event was organized by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, in cooperation with Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In 2023, the heads of Central Asian states and the German Federal Chancellor laid the foundation for strengthening cooperation on environmental and climate challenges in the region. Despite progress in attracting investment to the "green" economy, particularly in renewable energy, Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — continue to face funding shortages in other critical environmental areas.
The event gathered notable participants, including Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, German Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manfred Huterer, OECD Deputy Director for Environment Mathilde Mesnard, EBRD First Deputy Director Raquel Barza, as well as representatives of environmental agencies from Central Asian countries, Mongolia, and international organizations. Participants discussed key challenges related to financing environmental projects, focusing on securing water, energy, and land resources, biodiversity conservation, and implementing nature-based solutions.
Special attention was given to protecting freshwater ecosystems, improving water efficiency, controlling pollution, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The dialogue identified strategic priorities to enhance coordination among financial institutions. Discussions also explored blended finance tools to make environmental projects more attractive to investors. One of the key outcomes of the event was the introduction of a new "Central Asia Nature Partnership." Managed by the EBRD, this fund aims to support environmental investments and nature-positive business strategies.
It focuses on creating scalable demonstration projects to reduce natural resource losses, boost biodiversity, and improve climate resilience across the region. The dialogue in Tashkent marked an important step in strengthening regional cooperation and exploring new financing mechanisms for environmental initiatives. Participants emphasized the need for greater coordination at both national and regional levels to achieve sustainable development and tackle climate challenges in Central Asia.
