The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gives great importance to the issues of ecology and environmental protection and considers them to be one of the main elements of sustainable development. In the founding documents adopted by the SCO - the Shanghai Declaration (2001) and the Charter (2002) - cooperation in the field of ecology is defined as one of the main goals of cooperation.
For example, in an article of the Agreement on Long-Term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the SCO member states dated August 16, 2007, the parties agree to cooperate in the field of environmental protection, environmental safety, and rational use of natural resources. develop, develop and implement special programs and projects in these areas and take necessary measures.
At the current stage, the activities of the SCO are carried out within the framework of the Concept of cooperation in the field of environmental protection adopted at the summit held in Qingdao (China) in 2005. This Concept was the first document aimed at practical cooperation in this sphere. Its main goal is "to achieve comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security by ensuring ecological balance, favorable ecology and ecological development of the economy" that was initiated by the Uzbek side. After the adoption of the concept, the action plan for its implementation was approved.
In 2014, with the support of the Chinese government, the SCO Environmental Protection Cooperation Center was established in order to carry out practical work on the promotion of the set agenda. In 2019, a special program for the development of ecological well-being of SCO cities was adopted, which focuses on the prevention of environmental pollution, adaptation and mitigation of the consequences of climate change, ensuring the environmental safety of megacities, waste management and other issues. Working mechanisms such as the Council of Heads of Relevant Agencies, as well as the Expert Working Group on Environmental Protection Issues, have started to work continuously.
In order to advance the agenda of environmental issues, the SCO member states are constantly taking the initiative to hold new events. In particular, China is promoting the development of an Agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection, an environmental development institute, an information exchange platform, and an agreement on the establishment of an ecological innovation base of the SCO. Kazakhstan is advocating the creation of the Register of environmental problems of the member countries of the organization, the development of a digital map of the SCO ecosystem, the development of the program for the Phyto-forest-reclamation of the dry bottom of the Aral Sea, and the creation of a program for the development of specially protected natural areas and ecological tourism. Tajikistan calls for the establishment of an international fund for the protection of glaciers, the development of the Uzbekistan-SCO Green Belt program, and support for the comprehensive solution of the environmental problems of the Aral region (within the UN General Assembly resolution). India proposes to create a working group on innovation and ecosystem startups.
SCO member states intend to implement joint projects and programs in the field of environmental protection and the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies and establish an active dialogue with international institutions in order to increase the relative share of the "green" economy. , the theme of ecology and environmental protection rightly occupies an important place on the agenda of the SCO summit in Samarkand.
The head of the department of the International Institute of Central Asia Sh. Fayziyev, chief researcher N. Khasanov
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