European Union helps improve air, water and environmental quality in Uzbekistan and Central Asia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The environmental problem is relevant today for every state. In particular, the natural resources of the countries are closely intertwined with each other, and in order to improve the environmental situation, we must make every effort. In this direction, the EU project - WECOOP is involved in the region, the purpose of which is to strengthen the policy in the field of environment, climate change and water resources in Central Asia through its convergence with EU standards.

It is known from recent statistics that:

• Every year 1.7 million children under the age of 5 die due to unfavorable environmental conditions, especially air and water pollution;

• More than 90% of all children on the planet breathe air, the pollution of which exceeds permissible standards. Newborn babies and toddlers who spend a lot of time indoors are particularly at risk if kerosene, wood or coal are used to heat the home and cook food;

• Three out of ten people in the world do not have a safe and easily accessible water supply in their place of residence;

• Central Asia is home to 74 million people, almost half of whom are from Uzbekistan. It’s no secret that most of the people in the region are involved in agriculture. Climate change, such as drought or the melting of glaciers, negatively affects the lives of millions of people.

What WECOOP does for Uzbekistan

Helps improve air quality

Air pollution is one of the global problems. In Uzbekistan, it is aggravated by outdated equipment at industrial enterprises, the use of firewood and coal for heating residential premises in rural areas, car exhaust, and so on. The WECOOP project cooperates with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Environmental Protection of the State Committee for Ecology. Project experts are helping to improve the country’s air quality management system.

An overview of European requirements, approaches and standards for air quality management is now ready. Among them:

• Requirements for the quality of motor fuel;

• Requirements for industrial and transport emissions;

• Requirements for the quality of fuel for power plants and heating systems;

• Control over emissions of substances into the atmosphere;

• Organization of monitoring. 

After the State Committee for Environmental Protection analyzes the document, WECOOP experts, together with national experts, will select the most appropriate standards, identify gaps and develop a roadmap for the implementation of these standards and plans.

Supports the generation and implementation of green ideas

One of the tasks of the WECOOP project is the development of environmental projects that are most relevant for Uzbekistan, taking into account the successful European experience. We are currently working on four applications:

• Comprehensive environmental monitoring;

• Management of land and water resources in the Amu Darya zone;

• Study of collection and composition of household waste, as well as recommendations for recycling;

• Development of a process for obtaining fuel from household waste.

In total, 10 applications will be developed in various directions, from the choice of an idea to the development of an implementation plan and budgeting. The project specialists have prepared a mapping of international programs, according to which Uzbekistan can receive funding for the implementation of environmental projects.

Participates in the development of the draft Environmental Code

The development of the Environmental Code of the country is a work for several years ahead with the participation of experienced lawyers and environmentalists from Uzbekistan. WECOOP consultants have formulated the concept of the code, starting from the modern approaches of the European Union to environmental protection. The boundaries of action were outlined: which sectors will be controlled by this document, whether it includes forestry, water management, radiation safety, and so on. An extended table of contents (chapters, articles, content of each article) will be completed by mid-December.

The draft Environmental Code is based on the vision of WECOOP experts, but each element is coordinated with representatives of the State Committee for Ecology to take into account local specifics and requirements. After the completion of the work, approval of the document will begin between the Committee and other interested departments.

Valts Vilnitis, the head of the WECOOP project implementation team, is convinced that in the long term these projects will change the lives of many people in the region. Next year, work will begin on the implementation of European water quality standards in Uzbekistan. Also planned are mid-term training of specialists of the State Committee for Ecology in the environmental departments of the European Union.