Uzbekistan Presents Key Climate Goals at UN Summit in New York

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 24 September, New York hosted a Climate Summit initiated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Nearly 100 countries participated, including leaders of 40 states. The summit focused on preparations for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November in Belém, Brazil.

Countries party to the Paris Agreement, responsible for two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions, presented or announced updates to their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). For the first time, major economies, including China and Nigeria, set comprehensive emission reduction targets across all sectors. Other countries outlined new targets in renewable energy, methane reduction, forest protection, and gradual phasing out of fossil fuels.

Experts, however, warned that these measures may still be insufficient to prevent a climate catastrophe. A UN representative noted that the past summer brought devastating floods, droughts, and record heatwaves, affecting continents worldwide. Scientists emphasized that human-induced global warming amplifies the scale of climate disasters and poses serious future risks.

UN Secretary-General Guterres stated: “Science demands action, economics motivates it, and people call for it.” He highlighted that the transition to clean energy creates jobs, strengthens economies, and reduces dependence on unstable fossil fuel markets. COP30 is expected to be a turning point for devising a “credible global plan” to meet Paris Agreement goals.

Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Jusipbek Kazbekov, presented the country’s achievements and plans. Under the current NDC 2.0, Uzbekistan has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 34.8% by 2030, nearly meeting its commitments. Work is underway on NDC 3.0, which will be submitted at COP30 in Belém.

Key climate targets for Uzbekistan include:

Expanding renewable energy capacity to 25,000 MW and increasing its share in the energy balance to 54% within five years;

Doubling energy efficiency across all economic sectors;

Collecting 95% of municipal solid waste and recycling 35% of it for energy recovery;

Expanding forested areas to 6.1 million hectares, including large-scale reforestation in the Aral Sea region;

Increasing protected areas to 14.5% of the country’s territory;

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries must update their NDCs every five years. While the deadline for 2035 targets passed in February, only 47 countries, accounting for about 24% of global emissions, have submitted their commitments. Major emitters, including the EU and India, lag behind, and some plans are criticized for lacking ambition.

The New York Climate Summit marked a crucial step toward COP30 in Brazil. The announced initiatives and renewed commitments demonstrate that, despite global challenges, countries remain determined to combat climate change and implement joint measures to protect the planet.