International leaders and financial institutions gathered in Tashkent to discuss strategies for increasing investment in environmental protection and sustainability across Central Asia.
Uzbekistan hosted the “High-Level Policy Dialogue: Scaling up Financing and Investment for Environmental Goals in Central Asia”, bringing together government officials, international organizations, and financial institutions to address the urgent need for greater environmental funding in the region. The event was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany (BMUV), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The dialogue was attended by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, German Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manfred Huterer, OECD Deputy Director for the Environment Directorate Mathilde Mesnard, and EBRD Associate Director Rachael Barza. Representatives from Central Asian environmental agencies, Mongolia, and international institutions also participated.
In his opening speech, Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized Uzbekistan’s commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that 2025 has been declared the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy” under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s initiative. He stressed the need for substantial financial investment and coordinated regional efforts to achieve environmental goals. He also introduced the Central Asian Nature Partnership, a new initiative managed by the EBRD to promote sustainable business practices and scale up investment in nature conservation.
Discussions during the event focused on improving financial support for underfunded environmental sectors, including water security, energy efficiency, land conservation, and biodiversity protection. Key topics included safeguarding freshwater ecosystems from overuse, adopting advanced water efficiency and pollution control technologies, and implementing nature-based solutions such as flood management and sustainable agriculture.
Participants also explored innovative financing mechanisms, such as blended finance, to improve the risk-return ratio of environmental projects. Financial institutions discussed how to strengthen coordination at both national and regional levels to enhance the effectiveness of environmental investments.
The newly introduced Central Asian Nature Partnership aims to drive large-scale environmental investment and promote sustainable economic strategies across the region. Managed by the EBRD, the fund will support pilot projects that can be expanded to reduce resource depletion, protect biodiversity, and build climate resilience in Central Asia. The event marked a significant step in securing long-term financial commitments for environmental sustainability in the region.
Source – Government Portal of Republic of Uzbekistan
