Samarkand Declaration on the Regional Review of Environmental Performance in Central Asia Adopted
As part of the international exhibition Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, a high-level event entitled “Regional Review of Environmental Performance in Central Asia: Approval of the Thematic Scope and Launch of the Operational Phase” was held at the Silk Road Samarkand exhibition complex, according to the Dunyo News Agency.
The event, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the National Committee of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Climate Change, and international partners, marked the launch of the operational phase of the Regional Environmental Performance Review (Regional EPR) for Central Asia.
The opening remarks were delivered by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. He emphasized the importance of strengthening international partnerships, introducing green technologies, and expanding sustainable financing mechanisms to ensure environmental security and sustainable economic growth across the region.
According to him, Central Asia is shaping a new architecture of environmental cooperation based on trust, scientific collaboration, and shared responsibility for the region’s sustainable future. Achieving these goals requires not only political dialogue but also a common analytical framework, coordinated approaches to environmental monitoring, the development of green finance, and the implementation of joint climate initiatives.
Statements were also delivered by Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, and Bahodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan.
Paola Deda, Director of the Forests, Land and Housing Division of UNECE, highlighted the importance of the Regional Review as a practical mechanism for strengthening environmental governance, improving coordination, and promoting results-oriented cooperation among the countries of Central Asia.
Participants emphasized that the region faces a number of shared environmental challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, air pollution, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and increasing public health risks. In this regard, the need for coordinated approaches and joint regional solutions was underlined.
During the event, the main thematic areas of the Regional Review were presented, including climate change, air quality and public health, sustainable water resource management for agriculture, ecosystems and energy, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as waste and chemicals management.
Particular attention was paid to cross-cutting issues such as green finance, environmental monitoring, harmonization of standards, access to environmental information, disaster risk reduction, and the strengthening of institutional cooperation.
Angela Sochirca, representing UNECE, outlined the next stages of the Regional Review, which will be implemented from 2026 to 2028 and will include analytical assessments, national consultations, and regional dialogue processes. The final recommendations are expected to be presented at the Tenth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” in 2028.
The event concluded with the signing ceremony of the Samarkand Declaration on the Regional Review of Environmental Performance in Central Asia, reaffirming the political commitment of the countries of the region to joint environmental action and the practical implementation of regional initiatives.
