In recent years, air pollution in Uzbekistan has become an issue of growing concern, while the drying up of the Aral Sea continues to draw global attention. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Farruh Sattarov, Head of the Environmental Policy Department at the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, about the country’s environmental challenges and the ministry’s efforts to raise public awareness.
TCA: Can you briefly describe the main projects currently being implemented by the Ministry of Ecology?
Sattarov: To improve the environmental situation, we are working on several major projects. One key initiative is a $115 million investment project with the U.S. company, Sayar LLC, to generate alternative thermal energy from medical waste. This project will process 96,000 tons of medical waste annually, producing 320 GWh of thermal energy.
Another significant effort focuses on improving air quality in Tashkent. In collaboration with South Korea’s Sejin G&E Co., Ltd, we are investing $55 million to generate 16 MW of electricity per year from landfill gas at the Akhangaran and Maydontol municipal waste sites.
Additionally, we are partnering with the Asian Development Bank on a $60 million waste management project. This includes supplying special equipment, mobile laboratories, and waste containers to sanitation enterprises in Karakalpakstan and other regions.

Farruh Sattarov; image: Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan
TCA: What are the priority areas for improving Uzbekistan’s environmental policy?
Sattarov: Our environmental strategy is guided by the Concept of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030, which was approved in 2019. Its main goals include improving air quality, promoting sustainable economic growth through eco-friendly technologies, and ensuring efficient natural resource management.
In 2025, our focus will be on the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy.” As part of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy, we are developing 30 environmental protection laws, which are currently open for public discussion.
TCA: What measures are being taken to combat air pollution?
Sattarov: In 2024, we took several key steps. We installed or upgraded dust and gas cleaning equipment at 188 enterprises and required 99.5% efficiency filtration systems at 24 new factories, preventing 8,500 tons of harmful emissions. In terms of targeting vehicle emissions, during the “Clean Air” campaign, we inspected 407,000 vehicles, preventing 256.9 tons of pollutants from entering the atmosphere. As part of the “Green Space” project, we planted 11.8 million trees around high-emission industrial sites. We also staged “Carless Day” events in Tashkent, Nukus, and other cities which helped reduce emissions by 5,800 tons, and eased traffic congestion.
In 2025, we plan to modernize pollution controls at 122 major enterprises, inspect 500,000 vehicles as part of a new “Clean Air” campaign, and plant ten million more trees in and around industrial areas.
TCA: What international initiatives does Uzbekistan support on climate change?
Sattarov: Uzbekistan is actively involved in both global and regional climate initiatives. In regards to the Paris Agreement, we are developing our third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to outline stronger commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding renewable energy. Our National Climate Adaptation Plan aims to minimize risks and boost resilience against climate change by transitioning to a green economy.
In terms of regional collaboration, we are part of the Central Asian Climate Adaptation Strategy, a joint effort with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, supported by Germany’s GIZ “Green Central Asia” program. This initiative focuses on water management, desertification prevention, and agricultural sustainability.
TCA: What activities have been organized to promote environmental awareness?
Sattarov: These are several initiatives aimed at educating the public on environmental issues: the “Uzbekistan Eco-Publication and Video Clips Award” is a nationwide competition inviting people to submit articles and videos on ecology; “Hymn of Nature” is a poetry and music competition highlighting Uzbekistan’s natural beauty; and the “Green Space” project is a tree-planting campaign encouraging every citizen to plant at least one tree, with over two million trees planned for 2025.
We are also launching several youth-focused programs in 2025: the “Do You Know the Laws on Ecology?” competition will involve over 110,000 school students and 7,000 vocational students to enhance legal awareness, whilst the “Ambassadors of Good Intentions of the Aral Sea” conference will bringing together young people from Uzbekistan and abroad to discuss environmental challenges in Karakalpakstan.
Eco-Picnic Events will see eco-friendly gatherings in parks and recreational areas to promote sustainability; the “Eco-Ingenuity” competition is a university-level platform for students to propose innovative environmental solutions; and the “Youth Builders of the Future” congress will gather 2,000 young people from Uzbekistan and 100 international participants to exchange ideas on environmental activism.
TCA: What is being done to address the Aral Sea crisis?
Sattarov: Efforts to restore the Aral Sea region include reforestation: since 2021, 45.5 million trees have been planted in Karakalpakstan, covering 1.9 million hectares of the dried-up seabed. Six artificial lakes covering 70,000 hectares have been created, replenished annually with a billion cubic meters of water from the Amu Darya River to support biodiversity and fish farming. Dust and gas filters have been modernized at major factories, and wastewater treatment systems have been upgraded at eight industrial facilities since 2022. Seven protected nature reserves now cover 3.7 million hectares (22.3% of Karakalpakstan’s land), some of which are recognized by UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention.
Scientific research is also a priority. The Aral Sea International Innovation Center is leading projects worth 8.3 billion UZS ($639,475) in collaboration with international organizations. By 2030, Uzbekistan plans to expand forest coverage in the region to 2.3 million hectares, increase green zones on the dried seabed to 2.6 million hectares (80% of the area), and implement global environmental projects focused on biodiversity, climate change, and soil restoration.
TCA: What measures are being taken to reduce environmental risks in cities and industrial zones?
Sattarov: A task force has been formed to monitor air pollution in Tashkent, focusing on high-emission areas along the city’s ring road. So far, 486 greenhouses have been checked, with 37 owners fined for violating environmental standards, 46 greenhouses shut down, and 426 receiving warnings to install proper filtration systems. Regular inspections and pollution control measures are being strengthened to ensure businesses comply with environmental regulations and adopt cleaner technologies.