Speech by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit

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UZA News

Esteemed participants of the summit,

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my dear brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, for inviting me to this summit.

The growing prominence of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a testament to the Emirates’ position as a hub for international dialogue on sustainable development, innovation, green economy, and regional connectivity.

Another clear indication of this is the successful hosting of the World Climate Summit COP28 in this beautiful country.

Distinguished heads of delegations,

Today, energy diversification and reducing the reliance on hydrocarbons in the energy mix are crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring global security.

The strategic objective of the New Uzbekistan is to achieve environmental stability and transition to a resource-efficient green economic development model. That is why we have declared the year 2025 as the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy” in Uzbekistan.

We have developed a long-term Low-Carbon Development Strategy and a National Green Finance Program. In the next five years, we aim to increase the proportion of green components in investment projects by up to 50%.

We will also implement a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification System and a National Emissions Trading System. By 2030, we plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% and continue to increase this commitment.

Under the Green Space Program, at least 30% of urban areas will be transformed into green spaces. We are also working systematically to achieve 100% adoption of water-saving technologies in agriculture.

Dear participants of the summit,

We are rapidly increasing our green capacity to meet the energy demands of our fast-growing economy.

In the past five years, we have attracted nearly $20 billion in foreign investment in the energy sector and built 9.6 gigawatts of new energy capacity. This includes 14 solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, as well as two energy storage systems with a capacity of 300 megawatts.

We have more than 50 major projects worth over $26 billion underway with foreign partners, with a total energy capacity of 24 gigawatts. By 2030, we aim to increase the share of renewable energy in our country to 54%.

Today, green development has become a nationwide movement in Uzbekistan.

We are committed to strengthening regional cooperation in this sector and making Central Asia a center for green development and clean energy.

We have also taken initial steps towards revitalizing the ancient Great Silk Road through energy connectivity. Recently, during the COP29 summit, we signed a multilateral agreement with our partners from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, which will enable us to export green energy to Europe.

I would like to emphasize that the United Arab Emirates is a reliable and strategic partner for us in the field of green energy. In recent years, our investment portfolio with the UAE has exceeded $26 billion, with renewable energy projects being the main driver.

Together with the organizer of this global summit, Masdar, we have commissioned five power generation facilities with a total capacity of 1.5 gigawatts. We have three additional generation projects with a capacity of 1.6 gigawatts and energy storage facilities with a capacity of 520 megawatt-hours in the pipeline.

We are also implementing similar projects with other leading Emirati companies, as well as our partners from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and China.

Dear participants of the summit,

We are interested in jointly realizing the enormous potential of Central Asia in solar, water, wind energy, and green hydrogen.

According to preliminary estimates, Uzbekistan alone has the potential to generate 500 gigawatts of solar energy, 100 gigawatts of wind energy, and 10 gigawatts of hydropower.

Our region is also rich in uranium and other key strategic resources. In this regard, we are ready to provide all favorable conditions for our foreign partners.

We invite prestigious research centers, experts, and scientists participating in this forum to actively cooperate with the Green University established in Tashkent in the implementation of research and innovation programs.

We also propose to establish an International Research Network for Combating Land Degradation and Desertification at this university.

Furthermore, at the COP28 and COP29 summits in Dubai and Baku, as well as other international forums, we have put forward initiatives to mitigate the effects of global climate change. These include establishing an International Center for Climate Loss and Damage Assessment, ensuring the safety of river ecosystems, setting up a Regional Hub for Water-Saving Technologies, and creating a Plant Genetic Resources Bank. We are ready to take practical steps with all our partners.

We will present the Regional Green Development Concept at the Central Asia Climate Change Conference, to be held in Uzbekistan this year.

We also invite your representatives to the Global Youth Digital Green Initiatives Festival, which will take place in the Aral Sea region on International Climate Day – May 15.

Dear friends,

The New Uzbekistan is open to the world for sustainable and green development, and we invite you all to engage in large-scale practical cooperation.

In conclusion, I wish the summit every success.

Thank you for your kind attention.

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