Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 28 April, the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-12) began its work in Geneva, Switzerland. The event is being held in parallel with the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-17) and the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12), and will continue until 9 May 2025.

The conference is held under the slogan “Making the invisible visible: sound management of chemicals and waste,” aiming to draw the attention of the international community to pressing environmental issues related to the impact of hazardous chemicals and waste on human health and the state of the environment.

The delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan is represented by specialists from the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, staff from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as well as experts in chemical management.

Uzbekistan’s participation in the conference highlights the country’s strong engagement in international efforts to ensure environmental safety and sustainable development. The significance of this forum is especially underscored in the context of a joint project with the FAO — “Technical Assistance for the Sound Management of Hazardous Chemicals,” financed by the European Union.

According to Sherzod Umarov, Deputy Representative of the FAO in Uzbekistan, participation in the Conference of the Parties offers Uzbekistan a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and exchange experience:

“Our joint project will not only enable the development of a National Waste Management Strategy and the creation of a reliable database on hazardous waste in the agricultural sector, but also lay the foundation for considering Uzbekistan’s accession to the Rotterdam Convention — an important step toward enhancing the country’s level of environmental security.”

Among the key issues on the agenda is the inclusion of several hazardous chemicals in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. These include acetochlor, carbosulfan, chlorpyrifos, chrysotile asbestos, and other substances posing a serious threat to human health and the environment.

Special attention will be given to the High-Level Segment taking place from 30 April to 1 May 2025. Participants will discuss global strategies to address environmental challenges — including pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss — through the effective implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions.

The participation of the Uzbek delegation in such a prominent international forum is a significant element of Uzbekistan’s state policy in fulfilling its commitments under the Paris Agreement and in advancing the goals of sustainable socio-economic development based on the careful and rational use of natural resources.