On March 23, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on priority national projects in the field of ecology and environmental protection for 2026-2030.
Initiatives aimed at improving atmospheric air quality, expanding green areas in cities and regions, increasing environmental education and culture, and strengthening the scientific and practical foundations of combating desertification were reviewed. First, information was presented regarding the measures planned within the framework of the "Clean Air" nationwide project. It was noted that today in Tashkent, there are cases of air pollution exceeding the established standards. This situation is also observed in Navoi, Fergana, Chirchiq, and Termez. The main factors of pollution are the growth of industry, the widespread use of carbon fuels, the increase in the number of vehicles, natural factors, and insufficient control.
In this regard, key goals have been defined until 2030: reducing the volume of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere, increasing the share of emissions capture at industrial facilities, reducing harmful emissions from transport, and reducing the number of days when PM2.5 levels exceed the established norm. It was noted that as a result of the operational measures taken, air quality in Tashkent has improved to a certain extent. Specifically, in January–February of this year, PM2.5 concentrations decreased significantly compared to the same period last year. From now on, regional programs will be adopted in stages, and analysis and diagnostics, a unified air monitoring system, and the inventory of pollution sources will be organized in each region.
The "Clean Air" project pays special attention to energy and industry. Tax incentives and financial incentives are provided for enterprises producing part of their products from alternative energy sources, as well as the widespread introduction of automatic monitoring stations, filters, dust and gas cleaning, and energy-efficient equipment. Mandatory automatic monitoring posts will be installed at industrial enterprises in Tashkent and adjacent territories, integrating data into a unified geoinformation system. For entities that do not comply with these requirements, compensation payments will be significantly increased.
Environmental requirements in the construction sector are also being tightened. For new large facilities, it is planned to increase the share of greenery during design, store construction materials in enclosed conditions, dispose of waste through special pipes and containers, enclose sites with protective barriers, and install online surveillance cameras. In addition, it was proposed to preserve "windy corridors," to take into account the conclusions of environmental expertise during construction, as well as to develop a master plan for the management of environmental and water resources of the city.
Specific measures have also been defined to reduce the impact of natural dust. These include creating a green belt around Tashkent, organizing green barriers in Surkhandarya and Syrdarya regions to prevent dust storms, creating artificial lakes and reservoirs, increasing the number of fountains in the capital's districts, and establishing the processing of leaves into compost and mulch. All of this should contribute to reducing the concentration of dust particles in the air and improving the urban environment.
Separate areas have also been identified in the transport sector. It provides for the phased tightening of motor fuel standards, the environmental classification of motor vehicles with the issuance of "red," "yellow," and "green" category stickers, the alignment of technical inspection with environmental requirements, the implementation of programs to renew outdated fleets, and an increase in the share of public transport. This will reduce the volume of pollution associated with road traffic, primarily in the centers of large cities.
The issue of greenhouse farms was also considered as an important component of the "Clean Air" project. It was noted that a large number of greenhouse farms are concentrated in Tashkent and the Tashkent region, while the share of greenhouses using coal, fuel oil, and non-standard fuels as heating sources is high, and emissions of hazardous substances such as NO2, SO2, and PM2.5 have a serious negative impact on air quality. Furthermore, due to the relatively low level of solar insolation in the Tashkent region compared to other territories, the costs of growing products in greenhouses here are significantly higher. So, if in January the average air temperature in Tashkent is plus 6 degrees Celsius, then in Termez it is plus 10.8 degrees. The cost of growing 1 ton of greenhouse products in the Tashkent region is 11.9 million soums, while in the Surkhandarya region it is 4.9 million soums.
Growing products in regions with a higher degree of insolation is beneficial both for the financial stability of the greenhouse farms themselves and from the perspective of ensuring price stability in the domestic market. In this regard, it was proposed to gradually transfer greenhouse farms in Tashkent and adjacent territories to areas with more favorable natural and climatic conditions and higher energy efficiency. In particular, it is planned to create an agro-park with an area of at least 940 hectares in the Sherobod district of the Surkhandarya region. This area is characterized by high solar insolation, milder winters, and significantly lower heating costs, which allows for a sharp reduction in production costs.
From October 1, 2026, it is planned to restrict the creation of new greenhouses in Tashkent and adjacent territories, and to provide relocated farms with benefits in infrastructure, lending, and logistics. The presentation also provided information on the concept of botanical gardens and dendrological parks within the framework of the "Yashil Makon" program. It was noted that botanical gardens serve to study, preserve, reproduce, and demonstrate local and foreign plants, while dendrological parks specialize in the introduction, acclimatization, and scientifically grounded care of tree and shrub species. According to the concept, various floral expositions, greenhouses, nurseries, lakes, indoor paths, gazebos, and flower zones will be located in the botanical gardens.
Currently, there are 3 botanical gardens operating in the country, while the project plans to create 12 more botanical gardens and 16 dendrological gardens. At the same time, the most suitable tree and shrub species will be selected for each region, taking into account soil and climatic conditions. By 2028, it is planned to create at least 100 hectares of botanical gardens and dendrological parks in Karakalpakstan, all regions, and the city of Tashkent. As a result, it is expected that by 2030, the country's total greening level will increase from 14.2 to 30 percent, the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 will decrease by 20–25 percent, and the average air temperature in climatically complex areas will decrease by 1.5–2 degrees.
Simultaneously, the concept of creating a National Dendrological Park in the capital was presented. The total area of this large green area will be 108 hectares. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to plant 50 thousand tree seedlings and 100 thousand shrubs. The park will contribute to the preservation of biological diversity, improve air quality, increase carbon absorption, develop scientific research and breeding work, and improve the urban microclimate. It is expected to lower the air temperature by 2-4 degrees and increase humidity by 10-15 percent.
The National Dendrological Park is being formed not only as a green zone but also as a scientific, educational, and public space. It is planned to create a zone of "Trees of Peace," collections of plants of six climatic zones, massifs of fruit and local tree species, a garden of medicinal plants, a greenhouse, flower gardens, recreation areas, pedestrian and bicycle paths, a parking lot and a reception area for visitors. An artificial lake with an area of 1 hectare and a sakura garden around it are planned in the central part of the park. The infrastructure will utilize modern environmental technologies - solar panels, benches and gazebos made of recycled materials, and an automated drip irrigation system. This park will serve as a natural laboratory for the Central Asian University for Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), and a center for biotourism and environmental education for the population.
Within the framework of the national project "Eco-culture," it is planned to form a new system that combines environmental education, science, and educational activities. It was noted that there is a shortage of specialists in this field who meet international standards, the level of environmental awareness and sustainable habits among the population is still insufficient, and there is a shortage of personnel capable of implementing innovations and climate technologies into practice. In this regard, from the 2026/2027 academic year, "green technical schools" will be established in 14 regions, which will be integrated into the Green University system based on academic cooperation.
According to the project, the number of students will increase annually and reach 10,000 by the 2028/2029 academic year. New directions related to environment and sustainable management, green economy, environmental engineering, climate change, combating desertification, sustainable urban planning, and sustainable energy exchange will open in the undergraduate and graduate programs. A dual system will be implemented in the educational process, ensuring a combination of theoretical knowledge and practice. Significant funds will also be allocated for the development of the university education system, scientific and innovative projects, and educational work.
To increase the environmental culture of the population, it is planned to revive the "10 thousand steps" initiative, launch the "Healthy Lifestyle" platform, and hold the GEF-8 Assembly and the "Eco Expo Central Asia 2026" international exhibition in Samarkand. The draft strategy for combating desertification was reviewed separately during the presentation. As noted, 70 percent of the territory of Uzbekistan belongs to the arid zone, while more than 70 percent of the land is subject to degradation. The deterioration of land resources causes damage to the economy amounting to 830 million dollars annually. As a result of the drying up of the Aral Sea, 3 million hectares of land were rendered unusable, and 56 percent of the territory was subject to wind erosion.
In this regard, it was proposed to create a regional joint research center at Green University. It is expected to become the first scientific hub in Central Asia for managing desertification processes. Within the framework of the center, 15 specialized laboratories will operate, digital monitoring of land conditions will be established based on satellite data, GIS, and remote sensing technologies, a genetic bank of drought-resistant plants will be formed, and the system for chemical and physical soil analysis will be improved.
This will create a national system for forecasting and mapping desertification processes, expand green cover in the Aral Sea region and arid regions, establish sustainable pasture use, and implement desert economy models. The Head of State noted the importance of the presented projects in ensuring environmental sustainability, protecting public health, further increasing the comfort of urban and rural environments, and widely implementing science and modern technologies in this field, and approved the proposed initiatives.