Uzbekistan is broadening the scope of its environmental agenda as part of a broader strategy to promote sustainable economic development, modernize infrastructure, and enhance climate resilience. The country’s environmental policy encompasses a range of interconnected areas, including renewable energy development, water resource management, ecosystem restoration, waste management, environmental monitoring, and climate-resilient urban development. In parallel with its domestic efforts, Uzbekistan is strengthening international cooperation to attract investment, technological solutions, and specialized expertise to facilitate the implementation of green projects.
This growing emphasis reflects a more integrated approach to environmental governance, in which climate considerations, natural resource management, and sustainable infrastructure development are increasingly aligned with the country’s broader economic development objectives. Renewable energy becomes a measurable part of the transition The most clearly measurable progress has been achieved in the renewable energy sector. Uzbekistan generated 7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity from renewable sources during the first seven months of 2026, representing a 23% year-on-year increase.
The country currently operates 21 renewable energy facilities with a combined installed capacity of 5,602 megawatts, comprising 15 solar power plants with a total capacity of 3,930 MW and six wind farms with 1,672 MW. The expansion of renewable generation has accelerated significantly in recent years. Electricity production from renewable sources increased from 576.9 million kWh in 2023 to 4.9 billion kWh in 2024 and reached 10.5 billion kWh in 2025.
Between 2022 and July 2026, Uzbekistan generated more than 23.4 billion kWh of electricity from renewable sources. The environmental benefits of this transition are also becoming increasingly quantifiable. According to the Uzbek Energy Ministry, the growing use of renewable electricity has contributed to savings of approximately 6.24 billion cubic meters of natural gas and prevented the release of around 13.46 million metric tons of pollutants into the atmosphere.
These developments indicate that renewable energy is evolving beyond its role as an instrument of climate policy. It is increasingly serving as a component of Uzbekistan’s energy security and economic development strategies by reducing pressure on natural gas resources while generating demand for new electricity generation and transmission infrastructure. International financing represents an important component of this transition.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s energy portfolio in Uzbekistan has reached nearly $2 billion, with cooperation encompassing renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, and electrification projects. The parties have also discussed increasing local content in energy projects, indicating a growing emphasis on deriving domestic industrial benefits from foreign-funded green infrastructure. Water security is moving toward technology and infrastructure Water management represents another area where environmental policy increasingly overlaps with infrastructure development.
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