It has been established to raise awareness that economic development and ecological preservation must occur hand-in-hand. The week’s opening event, conducted at the InContinental Hotel in Tashkent, has represented a true embodiment of this purpose.

The opening ceremony of EcoWeek 2012, timed to coincide with the celebration of World Environment Day on the 5th of June and in anticipation of the upcoming international ‘Rio+20’ Conference, included detailed presentations of ecological projects conducted by UNDP, the Republic of Uzbekistan State Committee for Nature Protection and the Small Grants Programme. These presentations featured photographs and printed materials, including posters, flyers, booklets and books.

The event’s exhibition was dedicated to displaying and demonstrating the work undertaken by the three participating organisations in order to protect Uzbekistan’s environment. One of the most interesting exhibits was a model of biogas plant, a presentation of the part of the work undertaken by the joint UNDP and Government of Uzbekistan project ‘Supporting Uzbekistan in Transition to a Low-Emission Development Path’. Other exhibits featured the techniques used to limit the carbon footprint and environmental impact of public buildings.

Also featured in the exhibition were two monitors which played engaging public service announcements developed by the project ‘New connection – New perspectives’, implemented in connection with the Goethe Institute. The announcements, filmed with the use of a variety of video and animation styles, focused on a number of topics including climate change, energy conservation, solid waste management and other important environmental issues. Two short films produced by UNDP projects regarding land management and the preservation of Uzbekistan’s Tugai forests were also shown.

While the work of the UN and its national partners took centre stage in the exhibition, also on display was the exhibition of children’s artwork entitled ‘Ecology of the Native City’. This collection, presented by the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was produced by children from Tashkent schools aged 5 to 15.

In addition to the exhibition’s collection of educative displays, the EcoWeek opening event also contained an official conference which served to outline the week’s significance and importance. The event’s opening words were delivered by the chairman of the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Coordinator of the UN Convention on Conservation of Biological Diversity Mr. Nariman Umarov, and by chair of the Committee for Agrarian, Water Management Issues and Ecology of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Hamroboy Razzakov. Other speeches were delivered by Director-General of the Centre for Hydrometereological Services under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan and the National Coordinator of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Mr. Viktor Chub, and UNDP Assistant Resident Representative Mr. Stefan Liller. Head of the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Shuhrat Sharafutdinov presented a history of the recognition of World Environment Day, while the singer Shukhrat Qayumov performed his new song ‘Take Care of the Water’. At the end of the ceremony the UNDP Representative Akbar Abdurakhmanov briefed those present with the EcoWeek 2012 schedule.

While Tashkent hosted the opening ceremony for EcoWeek 2012, in the west of Uzbekistan the United Nations Information Office joined with the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the public universities of Karkalpak and Urgench, to hold the regional Student Model United Nations (MUN) Conference ‘Sustainable Development: Ensuring Progressive Development in Harmony with Nature’.

As a particular noteworthy product of the United Nations Information Office’s on-going MUN programme conducted with middle and high schools throughout the country, the conference in Karakalpakstan was an ambitious project which brought together students from several universities in Uzbekistan. Each student participating in the conference stood in representation of a particular country, first presenting position papers before conducting talks in a formal atmosphere, offering solutions to question of sustainable development, and adopting a resolution at the end of the conference.

The conference was attended by representatives of both the State Committee and the teaching staff of the participating universities. These observers noted the purpose of the day’s event; to help young people understand the importance of their role in addressing environmental issues.

At the end of the conference, which lasted the whole day, United Nations Information Office staff announced the names of the most active participants and awarded them with gifts. To all of the attending students from Karakalpakstan, Khorezm and Tashkent, as well as the attending media representatives, the event made a long-lasting impression.