On 11–12 November 2026, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will participate in the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, held as part of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
The participation of the President of Uzbekistan in this international event is of particular significance for both advancing the country's national climate agenda and strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia. Climate resilience is becoming an issue of not only environmental but also strategic socioeconomic importance for the region. The President's participation provides an opportunity to showcase Uzbekistan's national achievements while also bringing Central Asia's shared interests to the forefront of the global climate dialogue. High-level international platforms of this kind offer opportunities not only to present achievements and outline future directions for climate policy but also to draw the international community's attention to the specific challenges facing Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region.
According to the Environmental Atlas of Uzbekistan, published in November 2025 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the country's average annual temperature has increased by 1.6°C over the past six decades, nearly three times the global average increase over the same period. In the Aral Sea region, the temperature increase ranged from 1.8°C to 2.5°C. Between 2019 and 2024, the country experienced six drought-affected years. These trends highlight the growing impact of climate change on water resources, agriculture, and people's living conditions.
In this context, the United Nations General Assembly resolution entitled “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Economic Integration to Ensure Sustainable Development in the Central Asian Region,” adopted on 20 May 2026, is of particular relevance. The document reflects the growing importance of regional cooperation in advancing sustainable development and developing coordinated approaches to addressing shared challenges.
Against this backdrop, the President's participation in COP31 provides an opportunity to present Uzbekistan's achievements to the international community and outline the country's future climate policy priorities. In particular, under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) within the framework of the Paris Agreement, Uzbekistan has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 50% by 2035 compared with 2010 levels. At the same time, the country continues to pursue the large-scale development of renewable energy. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation to 54%, thereby strengthening energy security and creating additional opportunities for low-carbon economic growth.
Further opportunities are also emerging directly within the framework of COP31. In particular, Uzbekistan has been selected as one of five pilot countries for the international Climate Implementation Bridge initiative, which seeks to translate national climate commitments into concrete investment projects. In addition, the conference will provide a platform for advancing the Silk Road Declaration on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change, aimed at strengthening cooperation among Central Asian and South Caucasus countries in responding to climate risks and their social consequences.
From the perspective of the Centre for Sustainable Development, the climate agenda has the potential to become one of the practical avenues for further strengthening regional partnership. Joint efforts in climate adaptation, natural resource management, energy connectivity, and investment mobilisation can not only enhance the resilience of Central Asian countries to climate-related risks but also create additional opportunities for deepening economic cooperation and advancing regional integration.
