On the eve of World Water Day, on March 14, Tashkent hosted a seminar dedicated to the launch of a new project of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, "Strengthening activities in Uzbekistan in the field of water supply, sanitation, and protection of water resources from accidental pollution in the context of climate change", implemented in connection with the accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Protocol on Water and Health.

The event was organized by the UNECE, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Mining and Geology. The seminar was attended by Head of the Department of Water, Land and Subsoil Protection Abdumajid Kholmurodov, the Director of the Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies at the Ministry of Ecology, Baxtiyor Pulatov, Deputy Executive Secretary of the EEC, Dmitry Maryasin, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Sarah Noshadi, Deputy Head of Mission/Head of the Department for Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan, Rachel Boesch, representatives of ministries and departments, international organizations, and the media.

For information: This project, implemented in 2023-2026, is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the UNECE.

"The project aims to improve national governance and capacity in the water supply and sanitation sectors, as well as to prevent excessive water pollution, especially from mining waste. He also pays special attention to increasing resilience to the effects of climate change, developing cross-border cooperation, and developing regional exchanges", said Golib Shukurov, Chief Specialist of the Ministry of Ecology.

During the event, a press conference was held in connection with the launch of the project and Uzbekistan's accession to the Protocol on Water and Health. Issues of water supply, sanitation, and health care and Uzbekistan's accession to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents were also discussed.

In addition, the agenda included a discussion of issues, technical tasks, and further work on the creation of an interdepartmental working group on the safety of reservoirs, the revision of wastewater standards, and water resources management in Uzbekistan.

"We are glad that Uzbekistan has joined the Protocol on Water and Health Issues. This is important because a clear action plan will serve to set clear goals and increase the importance of Uzbekistan's work on water resources management", said Rachel Boesch, Deputy Head of the Mission and Head of the Department for Cooperation, Swiss Embassy in Uzbekistan.

Special attention was paid at the seminar to the scope, advantages, and main requirements of the UN Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, the experience of Uzbekistan as a beneficiary of the Convention's Assistance and Cooperation Program, as well as the experience of Hungary as a participant in the Protocol on Water and Health. The work carried out in Uzbekistan under the Protocol and current priorities and needs were also discussed.

The current standards for wastewater treatment in Uzbekistan were also reviewed. As a result of the event, the work to be done in the future was determined.