New environmental assessment system to be launched in Uzbekistan according to Cabinet of Ministers decree

The State Center for Environmental Expertise of Uzbekistan, under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a press conference at the Media Content Center of the Presidential Administration to clarify the practical application of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 234 of May 11, 2026, 'On Measures to Implement New Environmental Impact Assessment Mechanisms.'

The event gathered representatives from state agencies, media organizations, bloggers, ecologists, project organizations, the business community, and experts.

The Ecological System Enters a New Phase

Representatives of the National Committee emphasized that ensuring environmental safety, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and reducing negative environmental impact have become key tasks of state policy in recent years under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan.

The establishment of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and the adoption of the Law 'On Environmental Expertise, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Strategic Environmental Assessment' marked important steps in the country's environmental reforms. Resolution No. 234 was adopted to implement this law and form a modern regulatory system based on international standards.

It was mentioned that the new structure was developed after studying the experience of countries such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, the European Union, Canada, the USA, Turkey, Georgia, Singapore, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Experts from the World Bank, the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Korea Institute of Environmental Sciences also participated in developing the new mechanisms.

What Will Change

The resolution provides for a comprehensive modernization of the state system of environmental expertise and environmental impact assessment (EIA). Projects will now be evaluated based on their potential impact on the environment. For the first time, the national system introduces procedures for international screening and defining the scope of work at an early stage to determine the necessity of conducting EIA and the volume of necessary environmental studies.

The reform also includes:

• assessment of carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions;
• accounting for the cumulative impact of multiple facilities;
• application of best available environmental technologies;
• expansion of public participation in making environmentally significant decisions;
• introduction of public environmental reviews;
• implementation of strategic environmental assessments for state programs, development concepts, and territorial development plans.

Furthermore, the resolution strengthens the responsibility of both project developers and organizations preparing environmental documentation.

Full Digitalization of Procedures

One of the most important changes is the transition of the state environmental expertise process to a fully electronic format. Documents are now submitted through the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services, which allows for reduced review times, minimization of human error, and increased transparency throughout the process.

The classification of projects by the degree of environmental impact has also been simplified: the number of categories has been reduced from four to three, which facilitates understanding and use of the system for businesses.

New Opportunities for Business

The resolution pays special attention to creating more favorable conditions for entrepreneurs and investors. The updated system provides the following opportunities:

• electronic submission of all documentation;
• requirements adapted to the level of environmental impact of individual projects;
• reduction of administrative procedures;
• lowering of administrative costs and reduction of processing times;
• a public rating system for organizations preparing environmental documentation;
• increased transparency of public services.

According to officials, the main goal of the reform is not to create additional barriers for business, but to implement modern mechanisms for preventing environmental risks and improving the quality of investment decisions.

Comments from the Center Director

Addressing the participants, Gairat Mukhamedov, Director General of the State Center for Environmental Expertise, stated that the adoption of Resolution No. 234 marks a new stage in the development of Uzbekistan's environmental expertise system.

Mukhamedov noted: 'Today, environmental expertise has ceased to be merely a permitting procedure. We are building a modern system for managing environmental risks, based on international standards, digital technologies, and principles of transparency. The new mechanisms allow for identifying potential environmental consequences at the project planning stage, which is critically important both for protecting the environment and ensuring the country's sustainable economic development.'

He added that the reform introduces screening and scope definition procedures for the first time, improves the public hearing process, establishes a mechanism for public environmental expertise, introduces qualification requirements for experts and organizations preparing environmental documentation, and creates a rating system to evaluate their work.

'All of this will significantly improve the quality of environmental documentation, ensure the objectivity of expert conclusions, reduce administrative procedures, and create maximum transparency for both investors and society,' he concluded.

Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Protection

Officials reported that the new mechanisms are designed to strike a balance between economic development, investment attractiveness, and environmental protection. According to the organizers of the press conference, the reform will strengthen the implementation of environmental policy, improve the quality of public services, enhance control over compliance with environmental expertise requirements, and bring Uzbekistan's EIA system in line with best international practices.

It was noted that the environmental expertise system is transforming from a regulatory tool into a modern mechanism for managing environmental risks that supports sustainable development, protects public interests, and contributes to forming a favorable investment climate.

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed the resolution 'On Additional Measures for the Socio-Economic Development of the City of Tashkent for 2026–2027' (No. PP-279 dated July 27, 2026). This document approves a set of measures aimed at increasing the capital's investment potential, supporting youth, and expanding cultural infrastructure.

New Mechanisms for City Development

According to this resolution, new mechanisms for socio-economic development will be introduced in Tashkent on a pilot basis until January 1, 2031. One such step is granting the city mayor the authority to allocate land plots in special economic and industrial zones for each district. The goal of this measure is to stimulate the investment activities of the districts, strengthen their ties with industrial facilities, and increase the number of implemented projects.

Support for Youth and the Book Industry

The resolution provides for the creation of a Youth Creative Park in the building of the Youth Center in the Almazar district. This new center will contribute to the development of promising startups, offer foreign language and modern profession training, and promote reading.

To support the book industry, entrepreneurs from the association 'Toshkent Kitob Tijorat' will be allowed to set up light book pavilions in high-traffic areas, markets, large shopping centers, and central streets. They will also be permitted to open Book Cafes and create 'book streets' in the city's 24-hour pedestrian zones. Furthermore, the resolution obligates all shopping centers over 5000 square meters to include bookstores.

Overall Goal of the Initiatives

In general, the adopted resolution is designed to promote the further development of Tashkent's urban infrastructure, enhance its attractiveness to investors, and expand public access to educational and cultural spaces.

Uzbekistan is launching a large-scale reform of its environmental assessment system. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 234, adopted on May 11, 2026, establishes the practical basis for implementing the revised Law on Environmental Review, which was approved a year earlier.

Goals of the Reform and Simplification of Procedures

The main goal of this document is to simplify processes for enterprises, increase the transparency of environmental inspections, and bring national practice in line with the country's international obligations.

Reducing Bureaucracy for Small Businesses

One of the key changes is the reduction of the number of environmental review categories from four to one. This means that thousands of small businesses whose activities have a minimal impact on the environment will no longer be required to undergo the inspection procedure. Furthermore, facilities will be classified by sectors, which is intended to eliminate ambiguities in the application of legislation that enterprises and experts previously faced.

Transferring Review to a Unified Portal

The state process of environmental review is being fully transferred to the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services (EPIGU), making the procedure more predictable and transparent. The resolution also enshrines legal mechanisms defining the rights and obligations of participants in the review process, procedures for collective consideration of disputed environmental conclusions, and rules for applying international instruments, including obligations arising from the Paris Agreement, the Basel Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Public Participation and International Obligations

Another aspect of the reform focuses on public participation in decisions of environmental significance. New regulations for public hearings and public environmental reviews are designed to strengthen democratic participation while ensuring Uzbekistan fulfills its obligations under the Aarhus Convention.

Rating and Certification of Project Developers

The resolution establishes rules for the activities of organizations preparing project documentation, including the introduction of a rating system and the issuance of qualification certificates. Additionally, it defines requirements for organizations engaged in project development, mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness and quality of their work and project documentation, as well as qualification requirements and certification procedures for their specialists.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

A separate part of the reform is dedicated to strategic environmental assessment—one of the most important tools of international environmental management. New procedures for preparing reports on strategic environmental assessment and verifying their quality aim to enhance the environmental sustainability of state programs, policy concepts, territorial planning documents, and urban development plans.

Results and Expectations of the Reforms

According to 2025 data, state bodies responsible for environmental review issued 49,620 environmental conclusions. Approximately 700 projects did not meet environmental requirements. The authors of the reform expect that introducing mandatory qualification certification for project developers and implementing a rating system for project organizations will improve the quality of documentation and reduce the number of projects that do not comply with environmental standards. The Cabinet of Ministers expects that integrating modern international mechanisms into the environmental assessment system will strengthen environmental protection, reduce environmental risks, and contribute to creating a healthy and safe environment for future generations.