Uzbekistan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 174

Uzbek Scientists Trial Salt-Tolerant Plants to Revive Aral Sea Seabed

Field trials are underway on the desiccated seabed of the Aral Sea as part of a restoration initiative spearheaded by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change. The goal is to identify plant species capable of surviving in saline soils and contributing to the rehabilitation of this ecologically devastated landscape. The study is led by scientists from the Research Institute of Forestry and supervised by Dr. Zinoviy Novitsky. One of the most promising candidates is Arundo donax, a species of reed grass typically found in wetter environments. Despite its usual habitat, the plant has demonstrated a remarkable tolerance for saline and arid conditions. Researchers discovered that groundwater in the test areas lies approximately two meters below the surface. Within its first year of growth, Arundo donax develops roots long enough to access this water, enabling it to survive and strengthen in the challenging environment. Dr. Novitsky noted that his team devised a specialized planting technique to improve the plant’s resilience. Root shoots were harvested from mature plants in regions with comparable soil conditions, such as Urgench and Karakalpakstan. When transplanted to the Aral Sea area, these shoots achieved a survival rate exceeding 90%. In addition to their depth, the roots of Arundo donax can spread laterally up to two meters, anchoring the soil and mitigating further land degradation. These trials, if scaled successfully, could play a pivotal role in combating dust storms and rejuvenating the Aral Sea region. Since 2021, Uzbekistan has planted more than 45 million trees across 1.9 million hectares of the dried seabed in Karakalpakstan. The country has also created six artificial lakes, replenished with water from the Amu Darya River, to foster biodiversity and support aquaculture. Moreover, dust filtration systems at major industrial sites and wastewater treatment facilities at eight plants have been modernized. Seven protected natural areas now span 3.7 million hectares in Karakalpakstan, several of which have been designated under UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention frameworks. Scientific efforts continue through the Aral Sea International Innovation Center, which is currently managing projects valued at over $630,000. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to expand forest coverage in the region to 2.3 million hectares and restore vegetation on 80% of the dried seabed.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Environment Environment Uzbekistan

As China Cuts Gas Demand, Uzbekistan Eyes Renewables Opportunity

China’s rapid transition to clean energy is beginning to reshape global energy markets, with significant implications for Central Asia. While the shift poses challenges for major natural gas exporters such as Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, it may create new opportunities for Uzbekistan, according to a recent analysis by Eurasianet. A report by BloombergNEF, titled Energy Transition Supply Chains 2025, highlights China’s dominant position in clean energy manufacturing. The country controls over 70% of global production in sectors such as solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, falling short only in the area of hydrogen electrolyzers. China is also leading in investment. In 2024, mainland China accounted for 76% of global spending on clean-tech manufacturing facilities. This robust industrial base aligns with the country’s surging domestic clean energy usage. Currently, renewables meet approximately 80% of the nation’s growing electricity demand. Think tank Ember projects that China will have over 2,460 gigawatts of renewable electricity capacity by 2030, twice the 2022 figure, with the bulk coming from solar power. Although fossil fuels still supply about 62% of China's energy mix, this proportion is expected to decline as economic growth slows, renewable capacity expands, and the country pursues its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. These trends are already affecting regional energy dynamics. China’s softening demand for natural gas may explain the lack of progress on a Russian proposal to increase gas deliveries via Kazakhstan, as well as ongoing delays in the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. Turkmenistan appears to be recalibrating its strategy, recently agreeing to export gas to Turkey, possibly reflecting a reassessment of future Chinese demand. Meanwhile, trade tensions between China and the West have led to a surplus of Chinese-manufactured solar panels and other clean energy technologies. As developed nations impose tariffs, Chinese firms are increasingly targeting developing markets. This could benefit Uzbekistan, which is actively expanding its renewable energy infrastructure. With surplus Chinese equipment likely becoming more affordable, Uzbekistan may gain access to low-cost clean energy technologies in the near future.

Home Uzbekistan Environment Environment Kazakhstan Environment Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Environment Turkmenistan Tajikistan Uzbekistan Features Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Tajikistan Features Turkmenistan Features Features Tajikistan Environment Turkmenistan Environment Kazakhstan Featurees Kyrgyzstan Features

Central Asia’s Green Energy Dream: Too Big to Achieve?

Although most Central Asian nations are heavily dependent on fossil fuel production and exports, they are aiming to significantly increase the use of renewable energy, hoping to eventually become crucial suppliers of so-called green electricity to Europe. Achieving such an ambitious goal will be easier said than done, given that developing the green energy sector in the region requires massive investment. What Central Asian states – struggling to attract long-term private capital into clean energy projects – need is financing for projects that modernize power networks, improve grid stability, and enable cross-border electricity flows. These upgrades are essential for large-scale renewable energy deployment and regional trade in power. Most actors in Central Asia seem to have taken major steps in this direction. In November 2024, at the COP29 climate conference held in Baku, Kazakhstan signed several deals worth nearly $3.7 billion with international companies and development institutions to support green energy projects. Neighboring Uzbekistan, according to reports, has attracted more than €22 billion ($23.9) in foreign investment in renewable energy, while Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan – which is aiming to generate all its electricity from green energy sources by 2032 – have developed strategies to help increase their renewable potential. But to turn their goals into reality, all these nations will need funding – whether from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries, China, the European Union, or various international financial institutions. Presently, the development of the Caspian Green Energy Corridor – which aims to supply green electricity from Central Asia to Azerbaijan and further to Europe – remains the region’s most ambitious project. According to Yevgeniy Zhukov, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Director General for Central and West Asia, this initiative is a strategic priority for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. “While the prospect of exporting green electricity to Europe is part of the long-term vision, the core goal of the initiative is to accelerate green growth within the region,” Zhukov told The Times of Central Asia. Together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the ADB is funding a feasibility study for this proposed transmission corridor. The study will assess the technical and economic viability of such a system, along with the environmental and regulatory requirements. In the meantime, the ABD is expected to continue funding other green energy projects in the region. The financial entity, according to Zhukov, invested $250 million in Uzbekistan in 2023 to support renewable energy development and comprehensive power sector reforms, while in other Central Asian countries, it remains “firmly committed to driving the green energy transition.” “For instance, in Tajikistan we are exploring the potential to co-finance the Rogun Hydropower Project alongside the World Bank and other international partners. In Kyrgyzstan, our focus has been on supporting foundational reforms in the energy sector, including strengthening the policy and regulatory environment to attract private investment in renewables. In Turkmenistan, we’ve launched a total of $1.75 million technical assistance initiative to help lay the groundwork for future renewable energy development,” Zhukov stressed, pointing out that these efforts are part...

Environment Uzbekistan Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Life & Culture

UN Backs Earthquake Victims Day, Highlighting Uzbekistan’s Seismic History

On April 29, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared a new international observance — the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes. The initiative, jointly proposed by Chile, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan, received widespread support from UN member states. The day will be commemorated annually to honor the victims of past earthquakes and raise awareness about seismic risks and disaster preparedness. Earthquakes remain among the deadliest natural disasters in human history, responsible for massive destruction and loss of life. Most recently, on March 28, a powerful earthquake in Myanmar claimed more than 3,700 lives. In Turkey and Syria, millions are still recovering from the devastating earthquakes of 2023, which killed over 55,000 people. Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ulugbek Lapasov, stated that the declaration is not only a tribute to victims but also a global call to action. “We thank all member states who supported the resolution, as well as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for their help,” he stated. Uzbekistan has itself experienced devastating earthquakes. One of the most significant occurred in the early morning of April 26, 1966, when a powerful earthquake struck the capital city of Tashkent. The disaster left 300,000 people homeless and caused severe damage to homes, schools, hospitals, and factories. Eight people were killed, and about 150 were injured. Important documents and photographs from the 1966 disaster are preserved in the Central State Archive of Tashkent. Located in a seismically active region, Tashkent has a long history of earthquakes. Historical sources, including the writings of 19th-century historian Muhammad Solih, document earlier seismic events, such as the destructive earthquake of April 1866, which caused widespread damage to mosques and homes and many deaths. The city’s history of resilience lives on today. Many of Tashkent’s buildings, decorated with colorful mosaics, were built during the post-earthquake reconstruction.

Home Opinion Head Uzbekistan Environment Environment Kazakhstan Environment Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Environment Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Opinions Tajikistan Uzbekistan Features Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Opinions Kazakhstan Tajikistan Features Turkmenistan Opinions Opinions Turkmenistan Features Features Kazakhstan Opinions Kyrgyzstan Opinions Tajikistan Environment Turkmenistan Environment Kazakhstan Featurees Kyrgyzstan Features

Opinion – Central Asia’s Looming Water Crisis: A Ticking Time Bomb

When people think of Central Asia, they often picture vast deserts, ancient Silk Road cities, and oil pipelines stretching to distant markets. Yet the region’s most urgent and combustible resource is not buried underground — it flows above it. Water, or more precisely the lack of it, is rapidly becoming the defining fault line of Central Asia’s future. For decades, the five Central Asian republics have tiptoed around a growing water crisis. The two major rivers that sustain life in this arid region, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, are now so contested and depleted that what was once a technical issue has metastasized into a geopolitical threat. The region's major rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya are under immense pressure, threatening agriculture, livelihoods, and regional stability. At the heart of the crisis is a tragic irony. The upstream countries, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, are rich in water but poor in energy and cash. They need to release water in winter to generate hydropower. Downstream nations, particularly Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, want water stored until the summer to irrigate vast cotton and wheat fields. The result? Mutual distrust, occasional diplomatic spats, and an accelerating race to dam, divert, and hoard water in a region already gasping under the weight of climate change. A Region Parched Central Asia annually utilizes over 60 billion cubic meters of water for irrigation from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins. However, recent years have seen a decline in river flows, with the actual flow of the Syr Darya being 20–23% less than the norm. Further, the ghost of the Aral Sea — a once-thriving inland lake that has now shrunk by over 90% in its volume and 74 % in surface area — serves as a haunting reminder of the cost of mismanagement. The Soviet legacy of excessive irrigation has morphed into a post-Soviet scramble for control, where water is not just a tool of survival but a lever of power. This desiccation has transformed the region, leading to the emergence of the Aralkum Desert and causing severe ecological and health issues. Climate Change Intensifies the Crisis Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity in Central Asia. A recent study revealed that an extreme heatwave in March 2025, with temperatures soaring 5 to 10°C above pre-industrial levels, was significantly amplified by global warming. Such temperature surges accelerate glacier melt and increase evaporation rates, further reducing water availability. By some estimates, Central Asia could lose over 30% of its freshwater resources by 2050. Yet, rather than galvanize cooperation, this existential threat has sparked more competition. International efforts have largely fallen flat. The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the region’s main water cooperation body, is riddled with inefficiencies and lacks enforcement power. External actors like China and Russia have their own interests, often deepening the regional divide rather than healing it. Inefficient Water Management Inefficient agricultural practices remain one of the most profound and persistent contributors to water mismanagement across Central Asia. In...

Home Uzbekistan Environment Environment Uzbekistan

UN Adopts Uzbekistan’s Initiative on Global Forest Restoration

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution put forward by Uzbekistan to declare 2027-2036 as the Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation. The announcement was made in a statement by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Titled “The Decade of Action for Sustainable Forest Management, Afforestation, and Reforestation”, the resolution was passed during a session in New York and garnered the support of over 80 co-sponsoring nations. Among them were all Central Asian countries, as well as Azerbaijan, Russia, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Finland, Portugal, India, Iran, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain. According to the Foreign Ministry, the resolution is grounded in several environmental initiatives championed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including the national “Green Space” project, the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy” program, and the “Central Asian Green Belt” tree-planting campaign. The document urges nations and international organizations to intensify their efforts and pool resources to safeguard forests and rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This marks the second recent environmental resolution initiated by Uzbekistan and adopted by the UN. In 2024, the General Assembly supported a separate proposal focused on sustainable forest management and the restoration of degraded lands, including drylands, as part of broader efforts to combat ecological degradation. Uzbekistan’s flagship environmental initiative, Yashil Makon (Green Space), was launched in 2021 and aims to plant one billion trees and shrubs nationwide within five years.