The first regional high-level political dialogue on “Building a Future with Clean Air in Central Asia” took place in Tashkent, as reported by local media on Wednesday.
The event was organized by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, with support from the World Bank and the UN Environment Program.
The United Nations has highlighted the severity of air pollution, noting that it causes more than 7 million deaths annually worldwide. Environmental experts warn that without immediate action, air pollution-related deaths could rise by 50-100 percent by 2050.
“Uzbekistan, like other Central Asian countries, is grappling with air pollution issues. We acknowledge that this challenge requires urgent and effective solutions. Cooperation and sharing experiences are crucial because environmental problems know no borders,” stated Zhusipbek Kazbekov, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change.
The dialogue saw participation from government representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside leading air quality management experts from Asia and Europe.
