Listen to the article
Uzbekistan has proposed hosting the Adaptation Fund’s regional coordination centre for Central Asia in Tashkent, raising the idea during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations climate conference in Antalya, Turkey.
Aziz Abduhakimov, presidential adviser on ecology and chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, met Adaptation Fund executive director Mikko Ollikainen at the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The two sides discussed expanding cooperation, attracting climate finance and advancing new projects to strengthen Uzbekistan’s resilience to climate change, according to the National Committee.
A central focus of the talks was a project portfolio valued at a combined $15.4 million. The package includes initiatives aimed at improving the climate resilience of farming communities and developing climate services for the agricultural sector, the committee said.
Aral Sea zone and digital tools
The delegations also addressed a set of proposed projects targeting the Aral Sea region, where desertification, drought and dust storms pose acute risks. Discussions covered early-warning systems, climate-risk monitoring and the introduction of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into that monitoring work.
The potential role of Uzbekistan’s Green University in building the region’s scientific and educational capacity was highlighted during the meeting.
Eco Expo invitation
At the close of the meeting, Abduhakimov invited the Adaptation Fund to participate as a partner in Eco Expo Central Asia 2027, an exhibition scheduled to take place in Tashkent from 15 to 17 June 2027.
The two sides agreed on next steps to consolidate cooperation, prepare new climate projects and expand access to international financing for Uzbekistan’s climate adaptation priorities, the committee said.