President Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with a presentation of proposals in the field of environmental protection on Thursday.

Two programs have been developed to preserve clean air and reduce the impact of emissions on the environment, the presidential press service said.

The first is the National Program to Combat Dust Storms and Mitigate Their Consequences for 2024-2030. This document provides for a phased complete ban on the sale and use of fuel below the Euro-4 standard (the president instructed to abandon AI-80 gasoline from 2025). To this end, the Bukhara and Fergana oil refineries will be modernized to produce high-quality fuel.

The second is a program of measures aimed at improving the quality of air in Tashkent, according to which green belts and parks will be created in the capital and adjacent areas of the Tashkent province over the next 5 years on an area of ​​441 hectares.

In order to streamline the work on sanitary cleaning, it is proposed to create an Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development on the basis of the existing center (a commission with this name was created in January). It is planned to introduce a rating system for enterprises on sanitary cleaning, dividing them into three categories depending on their performance indicators.

The presenters proposed to add an requirement according to which, when designing newly constructed buildings more than 12 meters high or with a total area of ​​more than 500 square meters, at least 25% of the adjacent territory must be greened.

In addition, industrial enterprises that have a significant impact on the environment will be required to create green belts. These requirements are already reflected in the presidential decree of November 23, 2023 and were supposed to come into force on March 1 of this year.

In order to prevent environmental violations and strengthen public oversight in this area, it is proposed to establish the honorary title of "Honored Ecologist of the Republic of Uzbekistan" in order to encourage active and proactive individuals.

The president was also briefed on joining the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

The presenters proposed to insert an article on liability for non-compliance with air quality protection requirements at construction sites into the Administrative Liability Code. It is also planned to tighten financial sanctions for fines for cutting down and intentionally drying trees, illegal extraction of sand and gravel from river beds, and dumping waste in unauthorized places.

By the May 27, 2019 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, an eco-labeling system was implemented in the country. Now, in accordance with the international standard ISO 14024, voluntary eco-labeling of products and services called Yashil belgi (Green Mark) will be introduced.

While, it is planned to approve industry schedules for the installation of automated monitoring stations, dust and gas cleaning equipment and local water treatment facilities at 2,336 enterprises.

A Green Charitable Fund without the status of a legal entity will be created under the Ministry of Ecology, which will be managed under public control. The possibility of voluntary charitable deductions "Green Payment" for tree planting will be introduced in the applications of electronic payment systems. This fund and payment were also mentioned in the November decree of the president.