On 18 November, Uzbekistan began a major overhaul of its environmental management system: the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change was established, the Eco-Police is being launched, financial sanctions for enterprises are being introduced, and a unified ecological online platform is being formed.
Following the signing of the documents, practical mechanisms for their implementation became clear: the powers of the new structures, including Eco-Police, were approved, procedures for applying financial sanctions were established, and the principles of the unified ecological platform were determined. These details provide a complete picture of the reforms.
On 18 November, the President of Uzbekistan signed Decree No. DP–217 “On Measures to create a management system in the spheres of ecology and tourism capable of promptly responding to the demands of the population” and Resolution No. RP–343 “On measures to organize the activities of the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Climate Change.” These acts initiate a large-scale transformation of environmental governance.
Creation of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change
The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change is removed from the Cabinet of Ministers. On its basis, while retaining existing staff positions, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change is established. The Committee reports directly to the President and operates independently of other state bodies and their officials. Any interference in its activities is prohibited.
The Committee is responsible for implementing nationwide projects, including:
- “Territory Free of Waste”
- “Clean Air”
- “Green Space”
- “Eco-Culture”
- “Bio-Heritage”
A Presidential Advisor on Ecology is appointed within the Administration of the President.
Aziz Abdukhakimov, who previously served as Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has been appointed Presidential Advisor on Ecology and simultaneously Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change.
Eco-Project Factory and Financial Sanctions from 1 April 2026
An “Eco-Project Factory” will be organized under the Ecological Committee.
From 1 April 2026, a procedure for applying financial sanctions for violations of environmental legislation will be introduced:
- Sanctions apply only to legal entities in the form of monetary fines;
- The application of administrative penalties to employees of legal entities for the same violation for which financial sanctions have been applied is not allowed;
- Warnings and payment of fines do not exempt the violator from complying with the decisions of the Ecological Committee.
Creation of the Eco-Police
Within the National Committee, the State Environmental Control Inspectorate — the Eco-Police — is established. This is a special unit endowed with specific law enforcement powers in environmental safety and prevention of violations.
The Chair of the Ecological Committee also serves as the head of the Eco-Police.
Eco-Police officers are authorized to use physical force, special equipment (including electroshock devices), and service weapons with rubber and net bullets. Body cameras will be installed on their uniforms.
National Environmental Monitoring Center and Unified Online Platform
On the basis of the Center for Specialized Analytical Environmental Control, the state institution “National Environmental Monitoring Center” is created.
The unified ecological online platform is scheduled to be operational by 1 September 2026.
From 1 March 2026, Category I and II enterprises that fail to install background monitoring stations on time and integrate them with the National Center will be subject to compensation payments increased fivefold.
Public mechanism for protecting green areas
From 1 March 2026, all acts granting exemptions from compensation payments for environmental damage will cease to have effect. Such exemptions may now be introduced only by law.
Starting 1 April 2026, a new public mechanism will allow citizens to initiate a prohibition on the seizure or allocation of land in settlements covered with trees and not part of the forest fund.
Initiatives are submitted through Public Service Centers or the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services (my.gov.uz).
If at least 10 percent of the population of the relevant mahalla supports the prohibition, the Ecological Committee imposes a ban on land seizure. The Cadastre Agency verifies the legal status of the land and registers the Committee’s prohibition if the plot is not privately owned and does not belong to another land category.