On January 27, 2025  President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to discuss the draft of the State Program for the "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy."  At present time the negative consequences of climate change are increasingly felt worldwide. Anticipating this, our country is actively transitioning to a "green" economy.

   In the past three years, 16 large solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts have been commissioned in the regions, and 35 small hydropower plants have been built. A "green energy" certification system has been implemented in industry. The number of homes installing solar panels has exceeded 60,000. As part of the "Yashil Makon" program, territory greening is carried out annually, and a rational approach to water use is applied.

   The year 2025 has been declared the "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy" in our country. In this regard, a draft of the state program was developed, which underwent public discussion for a month. The document was reviewed by 11 million citizens, and over 100 of the most relevant proposals were included in the program. The United Nations structures and representatives of other organizations expressed their readiness to cooperate in the program's implementation.

  One of the key directions of the state program is energy. Thanks to active work in recent years, the share of "green" energy in the country's total power capacity has reached 16 percent. This year, it is planned to increase this figure to 26 percent. To achieve this, another 16 large solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, 5 large hydropower plants with a capacity of 160 megawatts, and energy storage capacities totaling 1.8 gigawatts will be commissioned.

  The President instructed to additionally develop projects with a capacity of 1 gigawatt. Moreover, the installation of solar panels on state enterprises, industrial and service complexes, and homes will continue to be encouraged. For this purpose, 2 trillion soums in loans will be allocated.

   Based on the experience of School N. 19 in the Bayavut district of the Syrdarya region, the implementation of heat pumps in kindergartens, schools, and hospitals will be expanded.  "Green economy" is not only about the development of clean energy but also improving energy efficiency in various sectors.

  This year, the goal is to maintain economic growth at a rate of at least 6 percent and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to more than 125 billion dollars. The key factors for achieving this are rationality and savings. In this regard, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, has been tasked with developing a program aimed at reducing costs by 15-20 percent and increasing added value through energy efficiency.

  The President emphasized that it is time to transition to a resource-saving economic model. For example, in the electrical engineering, automotive, pharmaceutical, and food industries, the added value per ton of energy consumed is 15-20 times higher than in the chemical, construction, and textile industries.

  The task is to develop industries with low energy consumption and high added value, as well as to ensure resource conservation in the aforementioned sectors. An energy audit will be conducted, and energy-saving technologies will be implemented at 400 major enterprises with high energy consumption.

   In the near future, developed countries will only purchase products made using "green technologies." Therefore, this issue is receiving special attention now. This year, 15 percent of industrial and infrastructure projects will be environmentally friendly, and by 2027, their share will reach 30 percent, and by 2030, 55 percent. To support low-carbon projects, 300 million dollars will be attracted from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, and other organizations.

   During the construction of energy complexes, equipment and components worth 4 billion dollars will be produced by domestic enterprises. This will increase the share of "green components" in major projects from 25 to 31 percent.

   As part of the "Yashil Makon" program, 200 million trees will be planted annually. Over the past three years, 698 orchards and 316 public parks have been created. Green areas covering about 2 million hectares have been established in the dried seabed of the Aral Sea.

   In continuation of these efforts, 18 forestry enterprises specializing in growing saplings will be established this year. Based on the principle of "science-project-practice," breeding work will be strengthened, seed-growing laboratories, intensive experimental sites, and "mother" plantations will be organized.

   This year, it is planned to grow 123 million saplings in these enterprises. "Yashil Olam" platform will be launched, where saplings can be purchased online.

  Businesses that green their territories and use environmentally friendly equipment and materials in production will be granted the status of "green entrepreneur." This will be taken into account in the entrepreneur rankings. They will receive comprehensive support in obtaining a "green certificate" and in finding new markets.

   At the meeting, responsible officials reported on the tasks laid out in the draft state program and plans for its implementation.