Hamzayev, Candidate of the Ecological Party, Outlines Presidential Plans for Environmental Reform

Today, on the 30th of May, the 4th special meeting of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan took place in Tashkent.  The congress approved the program of the presidential candidate from the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, as reported by the party's press service.

Abdushukur Khudoykulovich Hamzayev, the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Party, received support as the candidate for the position of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the Environmental Party of Uzbekistan.  The congress also thoroughly discussed the program of the presidential candidate from the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

The candidate program presented a range of initiatives aimed at reforming the country's economy. Among them are the development of the "Green Uzbekistan – 2030" program, which focuses on phasing out the use of pesticides, the introduction of the "Green Visa" program, the creation of a "green economy transition index" for industries and regions, and the promotion of transportation of goods from large vehicles to railways.  The program also highlighted the development of state dental clinics in the social sphere, the enforcement of a requirement for at least 30 percent green areas in city master plans, the strengthening of public oversight in urban planning activities, and the consideration of environmental impact in the adoption of normative documents.  Initiatives such as the implementation of a secret assessment system, the gradual phasing out of single-use plastic and polyethylene containers, the ban on importing electronic cigarettes, and the prohibition on the sale and import of passenger cars with internal combustion engines from 2030 have already been put into action.

During the discussion of the program, proposals were made to ensure the rule of law and reform the judiciary.  These included the codification of environmental legislation, the enactment of the Ecology, Water, and Forest Codes, the revision of the Law "On Waste," and the implementation of the program "On Improving the Ecological Culture of the Population." The program also emphasized the development of an evaluation system for ecological water, the enhancement of quality in legal assistance and services, the improvement of environmentalist-lawyer training, the strengthening of measures to promote openness and transparency in the activities of government agencies, tenders, and public procurement, the reduction of fines imposed by administrative bodies, and the expansion of the authority of courts to regulate road safety exclusively based on law.

Furthermore, proposals concerning state and community building were recognized. These included the adoption of the "Sustainable Ecological Development Strategy" to outline the priorities of the state's environmental policy, the implementation of the "Green Energy Strategy" to determine the prospects for the development of renewable energy sources, and the formulation of a National Program to facilitate the efficient use of water and increase its productivity.  Additionally, membership in various international agreements was highlighted as an important aspect of the party's agenda.