Uzbekistan has made strides in advancing its environmental agenda during the first six months of 2025, designated as the Year of Environmental Protection and "Green" Economy. Backed by Presidential Decree No. 16, the country is accelerating the implementation of the national "Uzbekistan – 2030" Strategy, with a focus on improving ecological sustainability and public participation in green initiatives.
The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change has led a series of reforms to strengthen the environmental framework. Between January and June, the ministry prepared and submitted 18 draft regulatory legal acts to the Cabinet of Ministers, all aimed at tightening environmental protections and supporting the shift toward a green economy.
A cornerstone of Uzbekistan’s environmental push is the expansion of green spaces. During the spring planting season alone, 137mn saplings were planted under the nationwide Yashil Makon (Green Nation) project. An additional 13.8mn saplings were distributed to schools, healthcare facilities, and over 1,000 mahallas designated as environmentally “heavy.”
To support local engagement, a public vote was launched for 570 proposed “green gardens” and “green public parks.” Meanwhile, under the Open Budget initiative, 174 community-driven environmental projects received funding.
In Tashkent, over 337,000 trees have been entered into the digital Yashil Makon (Green Nation) platform with individual passports, allowing authorities and citizens to monitor their care and maintenance. Sapling nurseries and seedling grounds now span 1,300 hectares, producing 123mn saplings adapted to Uzbekistan’s soil and climate.
Efforts to restore degraded lands also gathered momentum. A total of 130,000 hectares of forest were created or restored nationwide, including 126,200 hectares in the ecologically sensitive Aral Sea region. In mountainous areas, terraced forest plantations were established across 41 hectares, while 746 tonnes of tree and shrub seeds were collected to ensure planting continuity.
Uzbekistan also took action to mitigate industrial pollution. At 44 enterprises with high environmental impact, 47 outdated dust-and-gas emission control systems were modernized, and two high-efficiency purification units were installed. Authorities compiled a register of 74 high-risk enterprises slated for the construction or reconstruction of wastewater treatment facilities. So far, 18 such facilities have been completed.
Air quality monitoring was expanded with the installation of seven automatic stations across six districts of Tashkent, enabling more effective data-driven environmental management.
Rehabilitation of polluted and degraded lands continued in parallel. A total of 976 hectares of land affected by mineral extraction were reclaimed. In the waste management sector, 27 outdated municipal landfills were rehabilitated and decommissioned, while construction and repair work was carried out on 56 household waste collection sites.
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