Uzbekistan continues to consistently strengthen environmental security and develop a system for sustainable management of chemical substances and waste. Following the VIII Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held in Samarkand, a new project titled "Supporting the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention through Environmentally Safe Management of Chemical Substances and Waste in Uzbekistan" was approved.

The project will be implemented by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the financial support of the GEF. The total budget of the initiative is $4.95 million. The project is designed to be implemented until 2031 and is aimed at strengthening national potential in the field of environmentally safe management of chemical substances and waste, as well as fulfilling Uzbekistan's obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Today, issues regarding the management of hazardous chemical substances and waste are becoming particularly relevant. Like many countries in the region, Uzbekistan is facing the consequences of historical environmental pollution related to industrial activities and the accumulation of obsolete pesticides. Resistant organic pollutants pose a serious threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, and public health, as they can persist in the environment for a long time and accumulate in living organisms.
 
The project provides for the modernization of national monitoring systems and laboratory facilities, the improvement of mechanisms for managing hazardous chemical substances and waste, the identification and reclamation of contaminated areas, as well as the strengthening of the technical potential of relevant agencies and the development of interdepartmental cooperation. Approximately 10,000 people, including 5,000 women, are expected to become direct beneficiaries of the project. Among the key environmental results are the environmentally safe removal and disposal of 565 tons of solid and liquid waste contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, as well as the safe destruction of 150 tons of obsolete pesticides.
 
The implementation of the project will be an important step in reducing environmental risks, protecting public health, and preserving natural ecosystems. The initiative will also make a significant contribution to achieving national environmental goals and Uzbekistan's transition to a greener and more sustainable future.