A working meeting took place in Tashkent March 11 2026. between the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), Batyr Kurbanov Mamedov, and the First Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Obidjon Nematovich Kudratov.
The meeting was also attended by Nodirbek Rakhimjonov, Director of the CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan, Dilovarsho Dustzoda, Advisor to the CAREC Executive Director, as well as representatives of the National Committee, including the Advisor to the Chairman and the Rector of Green University.
During the meeting, the parties discussed current areas of cooperation and joint initiatives in the field of environmental protection and climate change. Particular attention was given to preparations for the Regional Environmental Summit (RES-2026), which will take place in Astana in April this year, as well as the Eighth Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2026), which will be held on the margins of the summit.
Representatives of the National Committee expressed their appreciation to CAREC for the invitation and for organizing such an important regional event, emphasizing its significance as a key platform for strengthening regional dialogue, exchanging experience, and fostering partnerships among Central Asian countries. The conference will also serve as an important networking platform for representatives of government institutions, international organizations, and the expert community.
The meeting also highlighted CAREC’s role as a regional organization with a unique mandate and extensive experience in implementing environmental and climate initiatives across Central Asia.
"We see CAREC as a strong regional organization with significant practical experience and a unique mandate in Central Asia. An important advantage of CAREC is that the organization works directly within the countries of the region and implements projects with strong involvement of national experts and institutions. This approach ensures the effective use of resources and allows financial support to contribute directly to the development of environmental initiatives within Central Asian countries," said Obidjon Nematovich Kudratov, First Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The parties also discussed prospects for expanding practical cooperation between CAREC and the National Committee, including the potential implementation of new joint projects in the field of environmental protection and climate policy with the support of international donor organizations.
Another important item on the agenda was the role of CAREC as a regional platform facilitating dialogue and coordination among Central Asian countries on biodiversity conservation issues. In particular, the relevance of further consultations among relevant authorities in the region regarding the conservation of the saiga population and possible cooperation in this area was noted.
In addition, the sides discussed issues related to regional environmental cooperation, including air quality and transboundary environmental factors affecting the state of the environment. Representatives of the National Committee expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with CAREC through regional dialogue and expert exchange on these matters.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening partnership and agreed to continue joint efforts in implementing environmental and climate initiatives in Uzbekistan and across Central Asia.
Additional information:
Nodirbek Rahimjonov - CAREC Country Director in Uzbekistan, uzbekistan@carececo.org