Uzbekistan Boosts Climate Resilience with Communities

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the occasion of International Mother Earth Day, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) presented the results of a joint initiative with LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. aimed at strengthening climate resilience and self-reliance in Uzbekistan.

The project is being implemented in the Surkhandarya region, which hosts a significant number of Afghan nationals. It involves both forcibly displaced persons and vulnerable members of local communities. The initiative is part of a broader climate action programme focused on introducing sustainable solutions that combine environmental and socio-economic objectives.

Among the participants are Afghan citizens Farid (name changed for privacy) and Basira, both of whom previously held senior positions in their home country. After displacement, they became part of groups engaged in environmental restoration and income-generating activities.

Farid is involved in reforestation work, noting that participants who once held different professional roles are now engaged in agricultural and outdoor activities, helping them adapt to new living conditions.

Basira, who worked as a teacher for more than two decades, highlighted the importance of access to education for children and expressed gratitude for non-discriminatory learning opportunities. She also said the initiative has provided her with income and continued social engagement.

Between November 2024 and March 2025, a total of 758 Afghan nationals and 824 members of Uzbek communities took part in the programme. Activities were carried out under Uzbekistan’s national greening initiative “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”), supported by UNHCR’s cash-for-work mechanism.

The project includes nursery-based seedling cultivation followed by replanting, improving the efficiency of afforestation efforts while helping mitigate desertification, drought, and dust storms affecting the region.

The initiative is also linked to clean energy infrastructure development. In 2025, a 700 kW solar power plant was commissioned at the Termez Global Warehouse of UNHCR, reducing carbon emissions and improving the facility’s energy efficiency.

The programme is implemented with support from the Government of Uzbekistan and United Nations partners. International cooperation continues to focus on integrating displaced populations into healthcare, education, and employment systems.

UNHCR said combining environmental initiatives with job creation helps strengthen community resilience and improve environmental conditions in climate-vulnerable regions.