Ashraf AboArafe
In December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution submitted by Uzbekistan entitled “Central Asia Confronting Environmental Challenges: Strengthening Regional Solidarity for Sustainable Development and Prosperity.”
The process of intergovernmental negotiations to develop and agree on the text of the resolution took place over a period of two months, specifically in October and November at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Experts from countries from all continents of the world actively participated in the consultations, including the United States of America, Russia, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and others. As a result, representatives of more than 100 countries presented numerous proposals to fill the text with specific content and achieve a global consensus.
* Green Agenda for Central Asia
The resolution specifically refers to a number of initiatives by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including the “Green Agenda for Central Asia” and its role in promoting sustainable development in the region. In the resolution, Member States welcomed Uzbekistan’s initiative to hold the International Climate Forum in Samarkand in 2024. Particular attention was paid to efforts to mitigate the consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea, with particular emphasis on UN activities through the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security in the Aral Sea Region , which was established on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. He appealed to the international community to continue supporting this fund. The document notes the importance of introducing innovative methods and new technologies in the fight against desertification and land degradation for the first time in Central Asia for the 21st session of the Committee to Review the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the high-level meeting on combating sand and dust storms on November 13-17 in Samarkand.
* Specific tasks
The resolution includes specific tasks to effectively confront climate and environmental threats in Central Asia, including sustainable agriculture and landscape development, rational use of water resources, energy efficiency, waste recycling, sustainable tourism development, creation of “smart cities” and sustainable transportation.
* Recommendations
The General Assembly recommended that the United Nations system, international and financial institutions, the private sector, investors and donors continue to mobilize resources, build capacity and provide assistance to address environmental problems in Central Asia.
The resolution also outlines the initiatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the field of environmental protection.
The document was submitted on behalf of all Central Asian countries. Also among the sponsors of the resolution were countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, China, Singapore, Hungary, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan and Paraguay (which includes representatives of all UN regional groups).
* Climate change
Following the adoption of the resolution, the United Nations News Service published an article entitled “The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to combat environmental problems in Central Asia.” He points out that climate change represents one of the most complex problems of our time and creates serious difficulties for the sustainable development of all countries. As stated in the post, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, while speaking at the United Nations in September, noted that over the past 30 years the air temperature in the region has risen by one and a half degrees. The portal quoted the President of Uzbekistan: “This is twice the average global warming.” “As a result, about a third of the total area of glaciers has disappeared.” The article also quotes President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s words that if this trend continues, in the next 20 years the flow of two large rivers in the region – the Amu Darya and the Syrdarya – may decrease by 15 percent. He added at the time: “It is expected that per capita water supply will decrease by 25 percent, and crop production will decrease by 40 percent,” calling on the international community to take the necessary measures.
Tribute to President Mirziyoyev
Representatives of the United Nations specialized agencies on the resolution expressed their appreciation for Uzbekistan’s initiative and extended sincere congratulations to the leadership and multinational people of Uzbekistan.
The Chair of the UN Water Technical Advisory Programme, Lianne Burney, said:
We welcome the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution “Central Asia Confronting Environmental Challenges: Strengthening Regional Solidarity for Sustainable Development and Prosperity.” The main points outlined in this important resolution, such as rational use of water resources, eradicating poverty, preserving the ecosystem and enhancing food security, are in line with the mandate and objectives of UN-Water.
In addition, I would like to separately express my pleasure at the presence of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the initiative he put forward, which led to the adoption of this important and timely resolution aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in confronting environmental challenges in Central Asia, as well as promoting development. Social, economic and climate change adaptation.
Uzbekistan plays a key role in strengthening cross-border cooperation in reducing disaster risks in the region. In 2021, a meeting of Central Asian Ministers of Emergency Situations was held in Tashkent, during which the Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia was adopted for the first time. In addition to regional forums, Uzbekistan contributes to global efforts in the field of natural disaster reduction.
“We hope it continues,” Burney added Uzbekistan has been active in this direction, including through the successful holding of the International Climate Forum in Samarkand in 2024.”
