Ministry of Ecology reorganized into a Committee

The Ministry of Ecology has been removed from the Cabinet of Ministers and reorganized into the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, with its existing staff positions preserved. This is stated in President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s decree “On measures to create a management system capable of promptly responding to public demands in the fields of ecology and tourism,” adopted today, 19 November.

According to the decree, the Tourism Committee operating under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change will be reorganized into the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, the Ministry itself is withdrawn from the Cabinet of Ministers’ structure and transformed into the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, with its current staffing retained.

The document states that the Ecology Committee will serve as the authorized body responsible for maintaining a stable environmental situation, protecting the environment, implementing the nationwide “Green Initiative” project, expanding forest areas, mitigating the effects of global climate change and combating desertification.

The Agency for Forestry and Green Areas, the Agency for Combating Desertification, the Hydrometeorological Service Agency, and the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development will continue operating under the supervision of the Ecology Committee.

The organizational structure of the Presidential Administration will also include a two-person unit serving as the President’s advisers on environmental issues.

In addition to the core functions previously assigned to the Ministry, the Ecology Committee will be responsible for implementing the following nationwide projects:

• the “Waste-Free Territory” national project aimed at improving waste processing and management systems;
• the “Clean Air” national project aimed at improving air quality;
• the “Green Initiative” national project, which envisages the creation of botanical and dendrological gardens with a total area of no less than 100 hectares across Karakalpakstan, the regions, and Tashkent city by 2028;
• the “Eco-Culture” national project aimed at promoting eco-friendly habits and lifestyle among the population;
• the “Bio Heritage” national project aimed at preserving biodiversity for future generations.

An “Eco-Projects Factory” will be established under the Ecology Committee, involving up to 15 foreign and local experts hired under civil law contracts.

Starting from 1 April 2026, a new procedure for applying financial sanctions to legal entities for violations of legislation in the fields of ecology, environmental protection and the use of natural resources will be introduced. Under this procedure:

• financial sanctions in the form of monetary penalties will apply only to legal entities;
• employees of legal entities subjected to such sanctions for the same violation will not face administrative penalties;
• receiving a warning to prevent repeated violations and paying the fine does not exempt the responsible persons from complying with the Committee’s decisions (submissions or instructions) or from carrying out other actions required by law.