The youth of Uzbekistan has united within the framework of the #BeTheWave eco-challenge to promote their ideas on preserving the environment. The event has merged into the #EU4Environment Week, organized by the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan with the support of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Environmental Protection, as well as the Center for the Hydrometeorological Service "Uzhydromet"

Tashkent, December 8, 2020 - On the eve of the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate, Uzbekistan hosted the #EU4Environment Week from December 1 till December 7. All events have been held online and attracted a great number of young people through the #BeTheWave eco-challenge. The #BeTheWave is part of a global initiative of the European Commission that motivates people to take simple, beneficial steps to preserve the climate and the environment, both at home and in public.

Online-events

The main events of the Week have been held on the corporate pages of the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan in Instagram and Facebook. Some of the eco-friendly ways which have been promoted to contribute to the environment, include simple actions such as using water in a glass while brushing teeth, using reusable textile bags for shopping in the store, turning off indoor lights, using thermo mugs and many others.

“Activity coverage statistics impresses deeply. Over 55 000 people in Uzbekistan and beyond our country have merged into the #EU4Environment Week. This implies that environmental issues and measures to preserve it have found a lively response and continue to attract many people around the globe. Digital communication channels are great opportunity for people who are not indifferent to the environment to share their climate friendly habits for the sake of preserving our planet. On the eve of the 5th anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to keep the average temperature warming within 2° C until 2050, it is essential to realize that every measure undertaken at present time is a conscious decision that should not cause any mistakes tomorrow. Get started saving water, energy, reduce the use of plastic bags and containers, sort your household waste, and most importantly, teach your kids these eco-friendly habits. The result will not keep you waiting” - said Chargé d'Affaires of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan Jussi Narvi.

The most active participants of the eco-challenge have been awarded with memorable souvenirs, such as eco-bags, thermo mugs, etc.

Master class for journalists of Uzbekistan

The key event of the Week has become was a master class for 20 representatives from number of major media sources in Uzbekistan, on the topic: “How to give publicity for environmental topics in an attractive way using multimedia tools”. During the training event, the participants have been familiarized with a variety of multimedia tools for more interesting media coverage of environmental topics. Such formats of eco-journalism as the ability of using visual tools “storytelling”, eco-life hacks, podcasts, cards, lists, environmental fact-checking, journalistic investigation have been considered. The journalists from online and print media from 9 regions of the country, as well as from the National TV and Radio Company of Uzbekistan have attended this master-class. All participants have received memorable certificates from the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan.

Media publications on EU projects in Uzbekistan 

During the #EU4Environment Week from December 1 till December 7, the media sources of Uzbekistan regularly published articles about 10 projects in the field of the environment, funded and implemented by the European Union in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

These projects promote close cooperation not only in the area of climate and environmental change, but in the areas of energy, water and food security as well. These initiatives serve the Sustainable Development Goals, which catalyze activities to combat climate change, as well as the Paris Agreement goals.

For more detailed information, see the links below.

1. Step by step towards solving the water problem. European Union project raises knowledge about rational water use;
2. “It is required to make sure that there is sufficient water for everyone” - the expert spoke about water management in rural areas;
3. Green technologies and circular economy: achievements within the framework of the “Innovative Uzbekistan” program;
4. The European Union helps to improve the quality of air, water and the environmental situation in Uzbekistan and Central Asia;
5. How the European Union and UNDP are improving the lives of rural people in Uzbekistan;
6. Uzbekistan is implementing the SWITCH-Asia program aimed at enhancing the environmental friendliness of goods and services;
7. The FAR expert told how a waste management project is being implemented in Samarkand.

Reference information

On EU financial assistance to Uzbekistan

The EU has allocated 168 million Euro to support sustainable development in Uzbekistan for the period between 2014 and 2020. The primary focus of the EU assistance is aimed at sustainable water resources management, as well as waste management, raising awareness of a sustainable environment, supporting circular economy and innovation, agriculture, development of remote areas, etc. Currently the issue of Uzbekistan support by the EU for the next programming period is under consideration.

About the Paris Agreement

2020 designates the fifth year of the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement (PA), a significant global milestone in the fight against climate change.It is the first-ever international, legally binding agreement on global climate change, which regulates measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, adopted at the Paris Climate Conference on December 12, 2015.190 countries throughout the world have joined the PA. Since the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, calls for more ambitious actions aimed at climate change for governments have been expressed more frequently in social movements by individuals, especially young people, and many others.

On the EU’s global role in the fight against climate change

 The European Union has been at the coalface of international efforts to combat climate change. The organization played an essential role acting as an intermediary when concluding the Paris Agreement and continues to demonstrate global leadership. The EU is the leader in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions. By 2018, it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 23% from levels of 1990, and aims to achieve 40% reduction by 2030.Last year, in 2019, the EU confirmed its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and launched a comprehensive growth strategy aimed at achieving a climate neutral European continent by 2050: the European “Green Deal”. The European “Green Deal” is a venturous EU commitment to improve environmental protection, increase access to clean energy, ensure food safety, as well as create better jobs and opportunities for society to achieve climate neutrality. Meanwhile, the European “Green Deal” constitutes an integral part of the EU’s strategy to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).