SCO Nations Turn Green Growth Into New Economic Engine

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states are expanding green development strategies to promote economic growth while addressing environmental challenges. Through joint technological exchange and resource utilization, SCO countries are integrating renewable energy, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable urban solutions into their economic models.

SCO nations represent approximately 42% of the global population and account for a significant share of world energy demand. To meet rising consumption without increasing reliance on carbon-intensive sources, member states are leveraging regional renewable resources, including solar, wind, and hydropower potential.

According to China's National Energy Administration, the total installed capacity of renewable energy in SCO countries reached 2.31 billion kW by the end of 2024, representing approximately half of the global total and a 14.5-fold increase compared to 2001.

Regional clean energy projects include a wind farm in the Akmola region of Kazakhstan, located approximately 50 kilometers from Astana. Operated by a Chinese company, the facility generates around 843 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 690,000 tons per year. Engineers adapted the turbines to withstand local winter temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius by implementing specialized surfaces and operating cycles to mitigate ice formation.

Ecological restoration efforts are also underway around the Aral Sea, which has lost about 90% of its original surface area since the 1960s, exposing over 67,000 square kilometers of dry seabed. Since 2013, China and Central Asian countries have collaborated through the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia in Tashkent, establishing over 80 monitoring stations to evaluate ecosystem conditions, groundwater levels, and salt-dust storms.

Joint initiatives have established five experimental gardens to test salt-tolerant plants adapted from land reclamation projects in Xinjiang, with plans for two additional sites. Over 40 salt-tolerant plant species from China have been introduced to test their adaptability to local conditions. Researchers are evaluating plants such as cistanche, which offers medicinal properties and potential commercial applications.

In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a waste-to-energy plant built with Chinese investment began initial operations in late 2025. Capable of processing 1,000 tons of waste daily, the first phase generates approximately 146 million kWh of electricity per year. Following the groundbreaking for its second phase in June 2026, the facility's total daily processing capacity is expected to reach 3,000 tons, producing about 480 million kWh annually. The $95 million project is designed to divert waste from landfills and create nearly 100 local jobs.

Urban transport networks across the region are also transitioning toward electric mobility. Pakistan has targeted a 30% share for electric vehicles in new car sales by 2030. In 2025, Chinese manufacturer Yutong delivered 400 electric buses across 19 Pakistani cities, creating approximately 1,500 jobs. An additional 600 electric buses from Beijing Automotive Group entered service in the country in 2026.

SCO leaders are scheduled to gather in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to discuss further expanding regional green development initiatives and economic cooperation.
 

Author: Chen Ziqi, a reporter from CGTN