Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- One of the main steps of Uzbekistan to intensify decarbonization processes is the liberalization of the energy market. This will contribute to energy conservation and create a favorable environment for the private sector to invest in renewable energy. At the same time, achieving the goals of bringing the share of renewable energy to 25% of total generation in 2026 will save natural gas and prevent an increase in CO2 emissions by 37.4 million tons.

On 10 July 2024, a round table was organized at the Center for Economic Research and Reforms on the topic "Opportunities for low-carbon development of Uzbekistan: scenarios, consequences, future research".

The event was attended by experts from the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Sustainable Infrastructure Program in Asia (SIPA), as well as representatives from ministries and agencies, research institutes, universities, international organizations, and other experts.

This roundtable discussion is being held by CERR in collaboration with AFD and SIPA to launch the Cooperation Program in the areas of "green economy" and "reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the economy," signed in November 2022 during the visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France.

Obid Khakimov, Director of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, opened the event by informing participants about the reforms being carried out to reduce the carbon footprint of Uzbekistan's economy, emphasizing the relevance of the issues discussed during today's event.

The main purpose of the roundtable was to identify ways to jointly develop and implement effective solutions to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Uzbekistan. The discussion, involving government agencies, businesses, civil society, and experts, allows for a thorough examination of various aspects of the problem and the development of a comprehensive approach to it.

"Uzbekistan has one of the fastest-growing economies in the Central Asian region and is one of the largest emitters of CO2. This is primarily due to the widespread use of fossil fuels in power plants and outdated industrial processes.

The transition to a "green economy" and the fight against climate change, mitigating its negative consequences, protecting the atmosphere, and expanding green spaces have become priority tasks within the framework of state and public construction reforms in Uzbekistan," emphasized the CERR Director.

During the event, it was announced that, according to the IMF, over the past 30 years, the temperature in our region has increased by 1.5 degrees Celsius, twice the global average (0.7 degrees Celsius). Moreover, according to forecasts, by 2050, the temperature may rise by another 1.6-2.6 degrees.

According to the World Bank, without measures to adapt to climate change, Uzbekistan's economy will shrink by 10% by 2050, leading to a significant decrease in employment and household incomes. It is necessary to consider the further impact of climate change on biodiversity, the environment, and potential climate migrants.

Within the framework of the Cooperation Program, it is planned to assess the possibilities of reducing the carbon footprint in Uzbekistan's economy, apply modern analytical methods and tools, and study international experience in reducing the carbon footprint of the economy. It is expected that the implementation of this program will contribute to Uzbekistan's transition to an environmentally friendly and low-carbon development model.

During the roundtable, experts noted that the main sources of emissions by economic sectors in the country are the energy sector (76%), agriculture (18%), industry (5%), and waste (1%).

The most significant sources of emissions are fugitive methane emissions from gas and oil (35%), CO2 from electricity and heat (21%), CO2 from the industrial sector, including construction (16%), livestock (15%), and CO2 from the residential sector (13%).

Implementing measures aimed at reducing CO2 emissions in Uzbekistan's economy will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and support "green" growth. This is an important priority for the government of Uzbekistan and international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF.

It was noted that one of Uzbekistan's main steps in intensifying decarbonization processes is the liberalization of the energy market. This will contribute to energy conservation and create a favorable environment for the private sector to invest in renewable energy sources.

Thus, according to the Development Strategy of Uzbekistan for 2022-2026, Uzbekistan has set a goal to reduce CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 35% by 2030 compared to 2010.

At the event, participants widely discussed the problem, and various stakeholders expressed their opinions. Different aspects of the problem were thoroughly examined through an exchange of views between government representatives, businesses, civil society, experts, and scientists.

During the event, various approaches and solutions to reduce CO2 emissions in Uzbekistan's economy were discussed. The proposals and recommendations put forward by the participants will serve as an important basis for future reforms.

Participants noted that by 2030, electricity demand in Uzbekistan will reach 120 billion kWh. Achieving the goals of increasing the share of renewable energy sources to 25% of the total generation by 2026 will save natural gas and prevent an increase in CO2 emissions by 37.4 million tons.

Issues of developing effective solutions adapted to the conditions of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with responsible organizations, exchanging experiences with international organizations, and developing cooperation were also addressed.

Furthermore, it was decided to develop an action plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Uzbekistan by strengthening cooperation between various stakeholders.