Photo: Press Service of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has dissolved the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, transferring its functions to a newly established National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The decision is outlined in a presidential decree published on the president’s official website.
According to the document, the National Committee will be formed on the basis of the former ministry and removed from the Cabinet of Ministers’ structure while retaining existing staff positions. With the dissolution of the ministry, the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan will also be reorganized into a separate agency.
The new Committee on Ecology becomes the authorized body responsible for implementing unified state policy and oversight in maintaining environmental stability, protecting natural resources, carrying out the nationwide “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”) initiative, expanding forest areas, mitigating climate change, and combating desertification.
A new advisory unit on environmental issues — consisting of two staff members — is being created within the Presidential Administration. Shortly after the decree was issued, former ecology minister Aziz Abdukhakimov was appointed presidential adviser on ecology and chairman of the new National Committee.
Several existing agencies will continue to operate under the committee, including the Forestry and Green Zone Expansion Agency, the Hydrometeorology Agency, and the Waste Management and Circular Economy Agency.
The newly formed body is also responsible for implementing several national programs:
✅ Territories Free of Waste
✅ Clean Air
✅ Yashil Makon
✅ Eco-Culture
✅ Bio-Heritage
A new “Eco Project Factory” will be created within the committee, engaging up to 15 local and international experts.
To strengthen oversight, the decree introduces a new system of environmental fines for legal entities starting 1 April 2026. Penalties will apply exclusively to organizations, not individuals.
The National Committee will also oversee a new State Environmental Control Inspectorate — known as the Eco-Police — which replaces the previous inspectorate under the ministry and the specialized environmental prosecutor’s offices in Karakalpakstan, as well as in Tashkent and Jizzakh regions. The Eco-Police will be headed by the chairman of the committee.
The decree specifies that the Eco-Police may establish territorial branches based on ecological zones rather than administrative boundaries.
