Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — At the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), taking place in Türkiye, world leaders are discussing ways to accelerate the energy transition, expand climate finance, and protect countries from the impacts of global warming. For Uzbekistan, these negotiations are particularly significant amid growing electricity demand, limited water resources, and the need to adapt its economy to climate change.
One of the main events on November 11 was the opening of the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to move from climate commitments to practical implementation.
According to Guterres, global greenhouse gas emissions reached record levels in 2025, while current national climate plans are insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C, the target set out in the Paris Agreement.
Guterres warned that exceeding this temperature threshold is now inevitable, although the duration and extent of the overshoot will continue to depend on the actions taken by governments.
For Central Asia, where climate change is placing increasing pressure on water resources, agriculture, and energy infrastructure, the challenge is not only to reduce emissions but also to strengthen economies’ ability to adapt to changing climatic conditions.
Climate Finance: From Global Targets to Real Investment
Financing climate action in developing countries remains one of the key issues at COP31.
Speaking at the Leaders’ Summit, António Guterres stressed the need to turn the global goal of mobilizing $1.3 trillion by 2035 into actual financial flows. He also called on developed countries to fulfill their commitments to provide at least $300 billion annually by 2035 and to develop concrete plans to at least triple adaptation finance.
The UN Secretary-General highlighted the unequal distribution of investment in clean energy. According to the figures he cited, developing countries outside China, home to nearly two-thirds of the world's population, receive less than one-fifth of global investment in this sector. At the same time, borrowing costs for many of these countries are two to three times higher.
For Uzbekistan, access to long-term financing is critically important. Modernizing electricity grids, expanding renewable energy, improving irrigation efficiency, and developing climate-resilient infrastructure all require substantial investment.
However, announced international financial targets do not mean that funds will automatically be allocated to individual countries. The practical significance of the negotiations will depend on which financing mechanisms are agreed upon, how affordable loans and grants become, and whether developing economies can effectively access these instruments.
Electrification: A New Global Target for 2035
Another COP31 priority is expanding the use of electricity in transport, industry, and buildings.
At a joint press conference on November 10, COP31 leaders presented the Global Electrification Pledge, known as "35 by 35," which aims to increase electricity's share of global final energy consumption from the current 23% to 35% by 2035.
COP31 President of Negotiations Chris Bowen noted that achieving this target would require more than a fourfold acceleration in the pace of electrification. According to Bowen, conference participants are also discussing how the relevant provisions could be reflected in the final COP31 decision.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized the economic benefits of the transition to clean energy. Citing data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), he stated that 90% of large-scale renewable energy projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.
For Uzbekistan, the global electrification agenda is particularly relevant as the country expands solar and wind power generation, develops energy storage systems, and modernizes its electricity networks.
However, increasing installed power generation capacity is only one component of the energy transition. Equally important are the ability of electricity grids to integrate power from different sources, load balancing, improved energy efficiency, and the reliability of electricity supply.
The global "35 by 35" target does not currently establish a separate national obligation for Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, it reflects a direction in international energy policy that could influence investment priorities and technological development over the coming decade.
Water Security and Climate Change Adaptation
Alongside the energy transition, COP31 leaders are placing considerable emphasis on adaptation to the impacts of global warming.
COP31 President Murat Kurum stated that adaptation, as well as loss and damage, should remain central to the conference's climate agenda.
António Guterres, meanwhile, called for protecting populations from droughts, floods, and other climate-related threats, expanding early warning systems, and supporting the development of a new generation of national adaptation plans.
The importance of these efforts is also underscored by new data presented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Antalya on November 9.
According to the organization's preliminary estimates, the average global temperature from January to September 2026 was approximately 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels. The WMO also reported that the past 12 years were the warmest on record.
For Uzbekistan, rising temperatures are directly linked to the risks of worsening water scarcity, increasing irrigation demand, and additional pressure on infrastructure.
The transboundary nature of Central Asia's water resources is particularly important. Water supply security depends not only on national water conservation measures but also on regional cooperation, the quality of hydrometeorological forecasts, and countries' ability to respond jointly to prolonged droughts.
Under these circumstances, international climate adaptation finance could potentially support the modernization of irrigation systems, the introduction of water-saving technologies, improvements in water resource monitoring, and the development of early warning mechanisms.
However, implementing such projects requires not only financial commitments from international partners but also concrete national programs with measurable outcomes.
What Could Uzbekistan Gain from COP31?
For Uzbekistan, the practical significance of the negotiations in Antalya can be understood through several interconnected priorities.
The first is access to climate finance on terms that make it possible to implement long-term infrastructure projects without excessively increasing the country's debt burden.
The second is the development of an energy system capable of meeting growing electricity demand while reducing emissions and strengthening resilience to external risks.
The third is expanded international support for climate change adaptation, particularly in water management, agriculture, and protecting the population from extreme weather events.
Finally, climate negotiations also have a regional dimension for Central Asia. Changes in temperature patterns, water availability, and energy development are closely interconnected and therefore require coordinated solutions that go beyond individual national strategies.
COP31 is still underway, and the final outcomes of the negotiations have yet to be determined. The initiatives presented and statements made by conference leaders indicate the direction of discussions but do not replace decisions formally agreed upon by participating countries.
For Uzbekistan, the ultimate measure of COP31's success will not be the number of new international declarations, but whether they can be translated into accessible financing, technological cooperation, and concrete projects that strengthen the country's water and energy security.
Kamila Fayzieva, reporting for UzDaily from Antalya
