For Azerbaijan, as the country preparing to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), strengthening cooperation with long-standing strategic partners, including in the field of climate change, is becoming increasingly important. Uzbekistan is one of such partners. For over 30 years, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have maintained close and strategically important relations. In an interview with Report, Uzbekistan's Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, discussed the strategic steps that both countries are taking, both jointly and separately, to achieve sustainable development and improve environmental conditions in the face of global climate change. The Minister also shared his thoughts on the prospects for expanding cooperation between Baku and Tashkent in climate protection, outlined the Uzbek delegation's work plans for COP29, and expressed his expectations for the upcoming global climate event in Baku.
How do you assess the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan?
The traditions of good neighborliness, which have existed for centuries, are especially important for all Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan is a key partner of Uzbekistan in the South Caucasus region. Cooperation between the two countries is acquiring increasing geopolitical and economic significance. Time confirms that Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations possess enormous potential and can play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable development for both the South Caucasus and the entire Central Asian region.
There has recently been a strengthening of ties between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia. This is primarily due to the coincidence of Azerbaijan's interests with these countries in both the political and economic spheres.
Uzbekistan cooperates with Azerbaijan within the framework of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), which addresses important issues of regional cooperation using international legal documents, norms, standards, and recommendations. The SPECA Project Working Group on Water and Energy Resources aims to tackle the challenges of climate change. Speaking about the platforms where we unite, these include various other organizations such as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the latter serving as a regional instrument for international cooperation in the Eurasian continent and the Central Asian region.
- How can Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan cooperate in implementing climate change initiatives? What specific areas of knowledge or resources could the parties share to address these issues?
Recognizing Azerbaijan's rich potential in renewable energy, Uzbekistan can adopt your country's experience in implementing "green" energy projects, developing "green" hydrogen potential, exchanging knowledge in thermal power plant construction through private investment, sharing best practices in "smart city" and "smart village" approaches, as well as in applying clean technologies and creating "green" energy zones. 2024 has become the year when Uzbekistan completed the preparation of National Adaptation Plans for five key sectors, including emergency situations, construction, agriculture, healthcare, water resources. In this context, cooperation with Azerbaijan, which is also in the final stages of developing its National Adaptation Plans, is promising. The cooperation involves knowledge and experience exchange in these sectors, which will allow both countries to adapt more effectively to climate change and increase the resilience of their social economic systems, as well as develop joint initiatives to minimize risks in managing climate change impacts at the regional level. To develop practical cooperation in training climatologists, it is very important for Uzbekistan to attract specialists from Azerbaijan to the Central Asian University for Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) located in Tashkent.
- What are the common goals and priorities of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in the sphere of climate policy?
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan face similar environmental conditions, such as high dependence on transboundary water resources. Our countries can effectively cooperate to address common challenges. Cooperation can focus on modernizing water resource infrastructure, developing sustainable agriculture, greening initiatives, and sharing experiences. In 2025, all countries must increase their ambitions for "Nationally Determined Contributions" (NDCs). To this end, a comprehensive assessment of national progress in meeting Paris Agreement commitments was conducted under the Climate Promise project. The assessment aimed to create compelling arguments for adopting more ambitious NDCs. Adaptation measures include increasing the resilience of strategic infrastructure systems, preserving biodiversity, and reducing the negative impact of the Aral Sea tragedy consequences.
I would like to note one of Uzbekistan's important achievements - the establishment of the Climate Council, which is designated as the highest advisory body to the president on climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. The Council's main tasks include monitoring the country's compliance with commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, as well as forming a unified state policy in this direction. The National Center for Climate Change, established under Uzbekistan's Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, serves as the working body of the Climate Council. Considering Azerbaijan's achievements in energy transition and climate change mitigation, following this example, Uzbekistan could also develop its own plan for gradual transition to "green" energy. Cooperation is also possible within the framework of implementing the green cities project. According to the project, Uzbekistan plans to develop environmental masterclasses for cities and districts.
- What are your expectations for the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be held in Baku from November 11 to 22?
- During the conference, we have planned meetings of environmental ministers from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). We are confident that these events will serve as an important platform for discussing current environmental issues and exchanging experiences between countries and high-level participants. Additionally, in the pavilion, we plan to hold an event on the Climate Migration Declaration, which was developed on October 21-22 in Tashkent at the Regional Technical Conference, organized jointly with the International Organization for Migration. The conference in Baku will open new opportunities to achieve goals that were not implemented at COP28 in Dubai.
We hope that countries will openly demonstrate their achievements related to clean technological solutions. Given that climate financing will be the main theme of COP29, we hope to develop a reliable ambitious plan to implement the engagement of climate financing volume at the upcoming event. The mobilization of financing for mitigation of adaptation consequences, loss and damage compensation will be critically important, requiring combined efforts from countries, international organizations, and the private sector. Since Central Asia will be one of the themes of COP29, this will also be a good opportunity to improve the region's representation in the international arena.