The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution
The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution "Central Asia in the face of environmental challenges: strengthening regional solidarity for sustainable development and prosperity" initiated by Uzbekistan.
The intergovernmental negotiation process to develop and agree on the text of the resolution took place over two months, namely, in October-November at the UN headquarters in New York. In the consultations was actively involved experts from States all over the world, including USA, Russia, China, France, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and others. As a result, representatives of more than 100 countries made numerous proposals to fill the text with specific content and achieve universal consensus.
The text separately mentions a number of initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan, including the "Green Agenda of Central Asia" and its role in promoting sustainable development in the region. In the resolution, the Member States welcome Uzbekistan's initiative to hold an International climate Forum in Samarkand in 2024. Special attention is paid to efforts to mitigate the effects of the drying up of the Aral Sea, with special emphasis on the activities of the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region, established on the initiative of the head of Uzbekistan. An appeal was made to the international community to continue to support this fund. The document highlights the importance of introducing innovative methods and new technologies in combating desertification and land degradation. It welcomes the successful holding of the 21st session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the high-level meeting on countering sand and dust storms on November 13-17 in Samarkand for the first time in Central Asia.
The resolution contains specific tasks for effectively countering climate and environmental threats in Central Asia, including through the development of sustainable agriculture, landscaping, rational use of water resources, energy efficiency, waste recycling, the development of sustainable tourism, the creation of "smart cities" and sustainable transport.
The General Assembly recommended that the UN system, international and financial institutions, the private sector, investors and donors continue to mobilize resources, build capacity and provide assistance to solve environmental problems in Central Asia.
The resolution also outlines the initiatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the field of environmental protection.
The document is presented on behalf of all Central Asian countries. The co-sponsors of the resolution also included countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, China, Singapore, Hungary, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Paraguay (covering representatives of all UN regional groups).
Following the adoption of the resolution, the UN News Service published an article entitled "The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on combating environmental problems in Central Asia." It notes that climate change is one of the most difficult problems of our time and creates serious difficulties on the path of sustainable development of all countries. As stated in the publication, speaking at the UN in September, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that over the past thirty years, the air temperature in the region has increased by one and a half degrees. "This is twice the global warming average,– the portal quotes the head of Uzbekistan. "As a result, about a third of the total area of glaciers disappeared." The article also quotes the words of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that if this trend continues, then in the next twenty years the flow of two major rivers in the region – the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya – may decrease by 15 percent. "Water availability per capita is expected to decrease by 25 percent and crop yields by 40 percent," he added at the time, calling on the international community to take action.
The intergovernmental negotiation process to develop and agree on the text of the resolution took place over two months, namely, in October-November at the UN headquarters in New York. In the consultations was actively involved experts from States all over the world, including USA, Russia, China, France, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and others. As a result, representatives of more than 100 countries made numerous proposals to fill the text with specific content and achieve universal consensus.
The text separately mentions a number of initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan, including the "Green Agenda of Central Asia" and its role in promoting sustainable development in the region. In the resolution, the Member States welcome Uzbekistan's initiative to hold an International climate Forum in Samarkand in 2024. Special attention is paid to efforts to mitigate the effects of the drying up of the Aral Sea, with special emphasis on the activities of the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region, established on the initiative of the head of Uzbekistan. An appeal was made to the international community to continue to support this fund. The document highlights the importance of introducing innovative methods and new technologies in combating desertification and land degradation. It welcomes the successful holding of the 21st session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the high-level meeting on countering sand and dust storms on November 13-17 in Samarkand for the first time in Central Asia.
The resolution contains specific tasks for effectively countering climate and environmental threats in Central Asia, including through the development of sustainable agriculture, landscaping, rational use of water resources, energy efficiency, waste recycling, the development of sustainable tourism, the creation of "smart cities" and sustainable transport.
The General Assembly recommended that the UN system, international and financial institutions, the private sector, investors and donors continue to mobilize resources, build capacity and provide assistance to solve environmental problems in Central Asia.
The resolution also outlines the initiatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the field of environmental protection.
The document is presented on behalf of all Central Asian countries. The co-sponsors of the resolution also included countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, China, Singapore, Hungary, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Paraguay (covering representatives of all UN regional groups).
Following the adoption of the resolution, the UN News Service published an article entitled "The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on combating environmental problems in Central Asia." It notes that climate change is one of the most difficult problems of our time and creates serious difficulties on the path of sustainable development of all countries. As stated in the publication, speaking at the UN in September, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that over the past thirty years, the air temperature in the region has increased by one and a half degrees. "This is twice the global warming average,– the portal quotes the head of Uzbekistan. "As a result, about a third of the total area of glaciers disappeared." The article also quotes the words of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that if this trend continues, then in the next twenty years the flow of two major rivers in the region – the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya – may decrease by 15 percent. "Water availability per capita is expected to decrease by 25 percent and crop yields by 40 percent," he added at the time, calling on the international community to take action.