The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan has officially announced that the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) will take place in the historic city of Samarkand from May 30 to June 6, 2026.
This announcement follows the signing of an Agreement between Uzbekistan and the GEF on the sidelines of the UNFCCC COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
“The 8th Assembly comes at a decisive time. With only four years left to achieve the goals set for 2030, it is essential to bring together governments, the private sector, and civil society under the unified principle ‘Nature – Climate – Pollution’ and initiate large-scale and inclusive actions our planet demands,” said GEF CEO and Chair Carlos Manuel Rodriguez.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology Aziz Abduhakimov emphasized that the Assembly will be a crucial step toward strengthening resilience, protecting nature, attracting investment, and expanding knowledge exchange.
“Thanks to broad reforms initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is gradually becoming a regional environmental hub in Central Asia. It is an honor for us to host guests from around the world in the ancient city of Samarkand. We are confident that the GEF Assembly will symbolize cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility for the future of our planet,” added the minister.
The Assembly will bring together ministers from 186 participating countries, international organization leaders, business executives, civil society activists, local community representatives, women, and youth. During the event, an accelerated roadmap for achieving global environmental goals will be developed. Participants will discuss strategic investments in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, chemical pollution reduction, and climate resilience, with particular focus on transforming key economic systems for sustainable outcomes.
Since joining the GEF in 1995, Uzbekistan has effectively utilized national and regional grant programs, supporting the preservation of unique landscapes, phasing out ozone-depleting substances, creating the first high-speed bus line for low-carbon transport, and strengthening the country’s capacity to address environmental challenges.
The cooperation has also enhanced transboundary ecosystem management and climate adaptation through projects on Central Asian transboundary biodiversity and Aral Sea programs. With GEF support, Uzbekistan actively fulfills its commitments under international conventions and participates in major global environmental initiatives.
📌 Source: National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
