At a meeting of the Senate Committee on Development of the Aral Sea Region and Ecology, the information of the Director General of the Uzhydromet Service Center on the status of the implementation of the tasks identified in the plan for the implementation of short-term and medium-term measures to mitigate the effects of climate change in Uzbekistan was heard.
According to the information service of the upper house of parliament, it was noted that the negative consequences of climate change are becoming global in nature and manifest themselves in our territory. As a result of the Aral Sea catastrophe alone, climate change in Central Asia is occurring twice as fast as global indicators. The increasing melting of glaciers that form the waters of rivers leads to such negative phenomena as the frequency of dust storms and their increase, land degradation, and the shortage of water resources.
Our country pays serious attention to mitigating the negative effects of climate change, the transition to a “green” economy, ensuring environmental stability and biodiversity conservation, and rational use of natural resources. In order to drastically reduce emissions of pollutants from the fuel and energy, industrial, construction sectors that affect climate change, a comprehensive Strategy for the transition to a “green” economy, a program for the development of renewable energy is currently being implemented.
Based on calculations and research, Uzhydromet analyzed the strategic programs adopted by sectors of the economy, construction and energy efficiency, as well as their implementation. As a result, within the framework of the Paris climate agreement in Uzbekistan, by 2030, a reduction in the share of greenhouse gases in gross domestic product by 35% will be achieved.
Also, 16 out of 51 activities included in the Action Plan for climate change mitigation in Uzbekistan have been fully implemented. The rest of the tasks are in progress.
Reportedly, the Ministry of Innovative Development financed a project worth 993 million soums, as well as 2 start-up projects worth 664.2 million soums, which are aimed at developing innovative technologies to combat soil salinization and climate change on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea, as well as improving the environmental situation on saline lands of the Aral Sea region.
In addition, certain work is being carried out in this area in order to effectively use renewable energy sources. In particular, a solar photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 100 MW will be launched in Navoi region in 2021. Construction of a new wind farm with a capacity of 100 MW has begun in Karakalpakstan.
At the meeting, it was noted that along with the work done, the ministries and departments were allowed to delay the implementation of some activities identified in the short and medium-term activities.
Senators gave relevant proposals and recommendations, as well as instructions to responsible employees to complete tasks not completed in a timely manner and on other issues.
The appropriate decision of the Committee was adopted on the issue discussed at the meeting.
