Uzbekistan adopts measures to fight climate change in region

In his address to participants, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that water and energy is key resources for solution of global problems, first of all fighting climate change.

Vuk Jeremić, President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, recalled about real threat of climate change. He said that It has been determined that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen above 400 parts per million for the first time in more than three million years.

“We need more energy, not less, to end poverty and raise global living standards. But that power must be low carbon, if we are to remain within planetary boundaries. New technologies are required in order to remake the energy delivery system so that by mid-century, they produce perhaps three times today’s output, but with less than half of the emissions,” he said.

The delegation of Uzbekistan stated that it is necessary to develop small hydro power stations with high power efficiency and minimal impact to environment to ensure sustainable development in Central Asia, where over 60 million people live.

It was said that international experts believe that small hydro power stations are more secure and rational compared to large dams and hydro power stations. It was said that this is important to support fragile ecologic balance in Aral Sea basin.

Uzbekistan said that the Central Asian region should focus on development of renewable sources of energy. It was said that the region could use solar energy as its potential exceeds needs of the countries of the Central Asian region four times.

It was stated that Uzbekistan made practical steps for development of renewable energy despite it possesses rich natural resources.

The participants were informed about initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on introduction of renewable energy in Uzbekistan.

It was noted that International Solar Energy Institute was created in Tashkent at the assistance of the Asian Development Bank and it is planned to construct 100 megawatt solar power station in Samarkand region.

Besides, it was noted that Uzbekistan plans to speed up move to green economy through organization of international conference on issues of further development of renewable energy in the second half of 2013.