Locations17 automatic air quality monitoring stations will protect the health of more than two million residents and become the foundation for making informed decisions in environmental policy
Climate Justice in Action: UNDP Launches Air Quality Monitoring System in the Aral Sea Region
June 19, 2025
Photo: UNDP in Uzbekistan
Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan – During the period from May 27 to June 16, 2025, an advanced network of automatic atmospheric air quality control was launched in the Aral Sea region, one of the world's most environmentally challenging areas. For residents of Karakalpakstan, dust storms and climate change create serious challenges for the health of local communities and the environment, hindering preventive measures and negatively affecting food security. In response to these challenges, 17 high-tech air quality monitoring stations have been integrated into the national environmental monitoring system.
The new network provides 24/7 automatic measurement of key air pollutants: hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), as well as fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10. Additionally, meteorological parameters are recorded – wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure.
The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Uzhydromet, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan can now exchange data in real time and develop preventive measures to inform residents and farmers about potential adverse consequences.
For healthcare workers, the network functions as an early warning system, preventing exacerbations of respiratory diseases. Agricultural enterprises and farmers receive valuable data on climatic conditions to optimize field work. Hydrological services use the information to develop environmental protection programs, environmental organizations use it for scientific research. Meteorological services improve forecast accuracy thanks to additional atmospheric data.
The distinctive feature of these technological solutions lies not only in their accuracy but also in their environmental sustainability. In accordance with the principles of just energy transition, each station is completely autonomous thanks to the use of renewable energy sources (solar panels), ensuring uninterrupted operation even during dust storms characteristic of the region.
The strategic placement of monitoring stations near educational institutions and in residential areas with high population density reflects the principle of "Leave No One Behind." This network will allow the integration of observation results into global climate change programs and compare indicators with international standards.
As part of the project, comprehensive training has been conducted for national specialists in the operation and maintenance of monitoring stations. Local personnel have been trained in the principles of working with high-precision equipment, sensor calibration procedures, data interpretation, and timely response to exceeding maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants.
"Climate solutions are investments in human capacity development and the environment. In the Aral Sea region, by integrating climate goals with national development plans, we create synergy – strengthening people's resilience to climate change, improving their health, expanding their opportunities. Every farmer who understands climatic conditions can not only protect their harvest but also ensure food security for the entire community. This is the path to just and sustainable development," noted Mr. Alisher Utemisov, UNDP Programme Manager in Karakalpakstan.
The new monitoring system will become a cornerstone in protecting public health and the environment, providing a scientifically sound foundation for decision-making in environmental policy and climate change adaptation.
The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme within the framework of the initiative “Building knowledge and skills of local partners and communities to address environmental insecurities through innovative air, land, and water management solutions in the Aral Sea region” with financial support from the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan (MPTF-4), thanks to the financial support of countries: Uzbekistan, Norway, European Union, Finland, South Korea, Germany, and the Alwaleed Philanthropies charitable organization.
