Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, raised urgent environmental concerns facing the globe in his address at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
"The world stands at the crossroads of a dire environmental circumstance, worsened by the triple planetary crisis: climate change, loss of biodiversity, and environmental contamination,"
President Mirziyoyev said.
Drawing attention to Central Asia, he highlighted the continuing plight of the Aral Sea tragedy, terming it a global issue.
"While grappling with the Aral Sea tragedy, Central Asia is evolving as one of the most climate-vulnerable regions,"
he expressed.
Mirziyoyev detailed Uzbekistan's endeavors in countering the repercussions of the Aral Sea disaster.
"We have planted drought-tolerant flora across 1.7mn hectares of the Aral Sea's desiccated bed. However, the continuance of these efforts hinges on global support,"
he stated.
Stressing the alarming climate statistics, Mirziyoyev mentioned,
"Over three decades, our region has witnessed a temperature surge by one and a half degrees, a rate double the global average. Consequently, around a third of our regional glaciers have vanished."
He further emphasized the looming threat to two pivotal rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya.
"Should this trend persist, their flow could potentially reduce by 15% in the forthcoming two decades, leading to a 25% drop in water supply per person and a 40% decline in agricultural yield."
Mirziyoyev warned of the adverse impact these changes could have on the region's socioeconomic fabric, emphasizing the need for timely interventions.
He strongly advocated for the inception of a Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Water Resources and the introduction of advanced water conservation technologies via a Central Asian Water Saving Technologies Platform, employing the United Nations Water mechanism.
Further, he mentioned the collective strides towards green development taken by regional nations.
"A collaborative endeavor such as the Green Development Program is in our collective interest, devised to counteract climate threats,"
the President said. He also mooted the idea of the Central Asian Climate Dialogue.
President Mirziyoyev unveiled a proposal for a UN General Assembly Resolution titled "Central Asia Facing Global Climate Threats: Solidarity for Common Prosperity." He urged for this to be deliberated at the International Climate Forum slated for Samarkand next year.
Concluding his address, he stressed Uzbekistan's strategic focus:
"Adapting our core economic sectors to climate change, striving for carbon neutrality, and substantially boosting our green energy proportion remain paramount."
Earlier Daryo reported that Munir Mammadzade, the Head of UNICEF's Representative Office in Uzbekistan, emphasized the ongoing significance of dedicating efforts to the restoration of the ecosystem in Aral Sea region.
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