Tashkent, February 23, 2021 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will hold an online forum next week bringing together Uzbek and international stakeholders to discuss how Uzbekistan’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis can be used to develop a “green economy.” 

The forum, which takes place on March 3-4, is being organized with support from the European Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the Government of Uzbekistan. 

The event, "Meeting New Opportunities: Green Recovery of Uzbekistan After the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic,” intends to build on the important progress being made in Uzbekistan to develop strategies for mitigation and adaptation in the face of climate change. 

The development of a green economy is a key objective for the Government of Uzbekistan. In October 2019, the government adopted a key presidential resolution, the "Strategy for the Transition of the Republic of Uzbekistan to a ‘Green’ Economy for the Period 2019-2030.” The strategy sets targets for reducing emissions by increasing energy efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy sources, increasing resource efficiency and crop yields, and limiting land degradation.

As the Uzbek government continues to implement green initiatives, the forum will draw on relevant lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic clearly demonstrated the complex connections between public health, economic development, and environmental management. 

Today, there is an opportunity to encourage a “green recovery” that prioritizes sustainability and energy efficiency. Participants in the forum will explore how the response to the crisis can put Uzbekistan on a more environmentally friendly and low-carbon path towards further economic development. 

UNDP has outlined several objectives for the forum. These include technical discussions on how to pursue a green recovery in Uzbekistan, the creation of platforms to discuss the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation policies that support resilient societies and economies, and the development of concrete policy recommendations.

The forum reflects the ongoing cooperation between international stakeholders such as UNDP, the EU, and UNECE with the Government of Uzbekistan. Key governmental organizations participating in this event include the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, the Hydrometeorological Service Center (Uzhydromet), and the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection.

The forum will be held online via Zoom with simultaneous translation in English, Russian and Uzbek. The event is open to the public and registration can be completed online (https://bit.ly/3uoc2qf ). Proceedings will also be broadcast live on YouTube.