On 17 June 2026, the global community marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, established by the United Nations to raise awareness of land degradation, sustainable natural resource management, and resilience to the impacts of climate change.

In the context of global climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures, traditional approaches to environmental protection are becoming less effective. Fragmented legal frameworks developed in previous decades are gradually giving way to integrated governance models. The Republic of Uzbekistan is undertaking a strategic transition in this direction through the development of a revised Environmental Code. The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) supports this initiative by serving as an expert platform that helps align national reforms with regional and global climate objectives across Central Asia.