Ministry of Environment ready to make Caspian Sea water level reduction a central theme of regional talks

According to data from the Waste Management and Circular Economy Development Agency, Uzbekistan intends to reduce the total number of landfills for solid household waste by at least 50% by 2030.

Currently, 200 such landfills operate in the country, covering a total area of 1653.47 hectares. Daily, between 14,000 and 15,000 tons of waste are delivered to the operational sites. Of the active sites, 135 landfills are located in Karakalpakstan and 12 other regions.

On average, specialized vehicles serviced by sanitary companies and other organizations make between 4,500 and 4,700 trips to these sites daily.

In line with the established goals, it is expected that the reduction in the number of landfills will reach 20% in 2025, 26% in 2026, 30% in 2027, 35% in 2028, 40% in 2029, and 50% in 2030.

During 2024–2025, 50 solid household waste landfills covering a total area of 255.9 hectares were closed, where reclamation work was carried out. This resulted in a 26% decrease in the total number of landfills.

In 2026, according to a presidential decree, the reclamation of another 18 municipal waste landfills is planned. This will increase the total number of closed landfills to 68, representing a 34% reduction.

Work is also underway to organize the waste sorting process. Within the first six months of this year, 98 solid household waste landfills were entered into the electronic public procurement platform for competitive selection of entrepreneurs.

As of August 1st, contractors who won the tenders have already been selected for 22 of these sites. Thus, the further reduction in the number of landfills is planned through the closure and reclamation of facilities, as well as the development of waste sorting services.

A high-level dialogue was held in Tashkent focused on strengthening the capacity of cities to withstand the consequences of climate change and natural disasters. The event was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the National Committee of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Climate Change, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Land Resources, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT).

The meeting took place within the framework of two regional UNDP projects aimed at increasing the resilience of Central Asian cities to disaster risks and climate change, as well as strengthening the regional disaster risk reduction system. These projects are implemented with the support of the Government of Japan.

Representatives from state agencies of Uzbekistan and Japan, international organizations, and experts participated in the event. Discussions focused on integrating disaster risk assessment and climate adaptation into urban planning processes.

Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President on Ecology and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, emphasized the need for further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan in the areas of disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, and sustainable urban development. He noted that Uzbekistan is gradually implementing air quality monitoring systems, green infrastructure, early warning mechanisms, and urban planning approaches that take into account natural hazards.

It was determined that developing resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and advanced environmental technologies represents promising areas for joint work with Japanese companies and technical specialists.

Hajime Sasaki, State Minister of MLIT Japan, stated Japan's readiness to share its experience, technologies, and public-private partnership practices with Uzbekistan regarding disaster risk reduction. During the dialogue, participants reviewed international experience and modern methods for ensuring seismic safety, flood preparedness, and risk-oriented urban planning.

Japanese specialists presented practical solutions for emergency response, while representatives from Uzbekistan outlined national strategies and measures being taken, including those in Tashkent and Namangan.

Khursid Sotiev, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, stressed that developing early warning systems, improving seismic safety, and implementing risk-oriented approaches to urban planning are directly linked to ensuring public safety. He reported that the ministry is ready to support initiatives in these areas and expand practical interaction.

Kenji Hirata, the Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan, noted that reducing disaster risks, enhancing urban resilience, and combating climate change are recognized as important areas of cooperation under the 'Central Asia plus Japan' format. Special attention is paid to the city of Namangan.

According to Akiko Fuji, UNDP representative in Uzbekistan, the first profile of climate and natural risks for this city was developed as part of a joint initiative. This tool is intended to help more effectively integrate climate and natural threats into urban development planning.

UNDP also highlighted the growing importance of urban infrastructure resilience amid ongoing urbanization and the need to protect the population from the consequences of natural catastrophes and climate change. The dialogue concluded with the development of recommendations for strengthening institutional capacity, improving early warning systems, and further developing regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. Participants emphasized the importance of continuing knowledge and technology exchange between Uzbekistan and Japan to create a safer and more sustainable urban environment in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.