Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Strengthen Environmental Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a video meeting with Erlan Nasynbaev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, as well as an in-person meeting with Beibut Atamkulov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, to discuss deepening bilateral environmental cooperation.

The discussions focused on preparations for the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, coordination of positions on key ecological issues, and drafting joint initiatives and statements. Cooperation in forest resource management, scientific and technical collaboration, and joint projects were also emphasized.

A key topic included a draft Memorandum on saiga conservation, aiming to coordinate measures for protecting this rare species and steps toward formalizing the agreement. Other issues discussed were air quality monitoring, joint research, and forming an intergovernmental coalition to improve regional environmental conditions.

The meetings also reviewed the practical implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Environmental Cooperation signed on 22 December 2022, including approval of the joint Uzbek-Kazakh commission and its membership. Preparations for international events, such as the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, the 8th Global Environment Facility Assembly, and Eco Expo 2026 in Samarkand, were discussed.

Participants highlighted measures to reduce air pollution, including potential relocation of industrial facilities and greenhouses, development of cross-border protected areas, and joint programs for saiga preservation. Both sides stressed that strengthened Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan cooperation in ecology supports effective environmental management and sustainable regional development.