BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. Uzbekistan’s National
Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Letter of Intent and
announced the launch of a new Global Environment Facility (GEF)
project aimed at strengthening the country’s hazardous chemicals
and waste management systems, Trend reports via the National Committee on Ecology
and Climate Change.
The announcement of the new initiative was made on the sidelines
of the Eighth Global Environment Facility Assembly, currently
taking place in Samarkand under the theme “Supporting the
Implementation of the Stockholm Convention through Sound Management
of Chemicals and Waste in Uzbekistan.”
The initiative is designed to enhance national capacity for
environmentally sound chemical and waste management while
supporting the country’s commitments under the Stockholm Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). During the meeting, it was
noted that persistent organic pollutants remain among the most
serious environmental and public health challenges worldwide. These
substances can accumulate in ecosystems, adversely affect
biodiversity, and pose long-term risks to sustainable
development.
The project will focus on strengthening monitoring systems and
laboratory capacities, improving hazardous chemicals and waste
management mechanisms, supporting the identification and
remediation of contaminated sites, and enhancing technical
expertise and interagency cooperation.
Participants emphasized that addressing the challenges
associated with persistent organic pollutants requires not only
effective legislation and regulatory frameworks but also modern
monitoring systems, robust scientific and technical capacity,
institutional resilience, and coordinated action at national and
regional levels.
The signing of the Letter of Intent reflects the shared
commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan and UNDP to advancing
environmental safety, protecting public health, and promoting
sustainable management of chemicals and waste.
The project is also expected to create new opportunities for
knowledge sharing, technical cooperation, and stronger regional
collaboration among Central Asian countries in the field of
environmentally sound chemical management.
