30 March 2022, Tashkent – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have jointly organized a Tashkent seminar on the approved methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. This methodology is crucial for monitoring and evaluating measures taken to reduce unwanted GHG emissions into the atmosphere. This seminar was attended by national private sector representatives and climate change experts. 

In recent decades climate security has become an important concern requiring urgent attention and commitment by all nations. In 2018 Uzbekistan ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and determined its national contributions to reduce by 2030 the specific greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 10 percent from the 2010 base line. In 2021 these commitments were revised and significantly increased to 35 percent, as announced by the Uzbekistan national delegation at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Greenhouse gas inventory is an essential part of implementing Uzbekistan’s national obligations within the UNFCCC. Such an inventory makes it possible to monitor progress in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement as well as to identify sectors of the national economy with the greatest potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

During the seminar, experts of the Centre for Hydrometeorological Services of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzhydromet) provided data showing that fossil fuel combustion represents 53 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, while methane leaks from natural gas transportation and distribution systems of the oil and gas industry makes up 22.6 percent. The rapid growth of Uzbekistan's economy, and a large population increase, greatly increases greenhouse gas emission levels and further worsens climate change.

"The private sector has two ways of contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through modernization of equipment and increasing carbon  sink by expanding forested areas. Private companies should purchase more modern equipment that can increase energy efficiency and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and also invest in forestry development. These measures will lead not only to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but also improve the overall environmental situation in the country," emphasized discussion participant, Zarif Garayev.

Lyudmila Khegai, head of the environmental support group for investment projects at the Uzliti Engineering Institute, reaffirmed that private sector representatives are fully aware of the ‘green’ economy’s relevance, and will support high-tech projects producing ecologically competitive products.

The Tashkent seminar was organized within the framework of the regional project ‘Policy action for climate security in Central Asia - Phase II’ implemented by UNDP in cooperation with Uzhydromet. It once again highlighted that only through the joint efforts of governments, public institutions, scientific organizations and the private sector can large-scale tasks to ensure climate security in Central Asia and the world be accomplished.