News

First Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting: “Support for the Realization of a Pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)” project

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, August 22, 2023– GGGI Uzbekistan held a Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting on the project “Support for the Realization of a Pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)” implemented by GGGI in collaboration with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan (MEEPCC).

On 15 February 2023, GGGI and AFD signed an agreement for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) project. The project seeks to identify a sector policy/program at the right stage of development to be the subject of SEA, implement the pilot SEA, and conduct stocktaking of lessons learned during the pilot to enable mainstreaming of SEA approaches in policy planning with environmental protection considerations. GGGI is responsible for laying the groundwork for the SEA, which will be conducted by a specialist environmental consultancy to be hired by AFD.

Representatives of MEEPCC, the State Center of Environmental Expertise (SCEE), the Ministry of Construction of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan (MIIT) and the Directorate of Free Touristic Zone (FTZ) “Charvak” were present as well as attendees from AFD, GGGI, GIZ and the Center for Progressive Reforms.

Mr. Gayrat Mukhamedov, Director of SCEE, opened the event with welcome remarks.

Mr. Mukhamedov stated that ongoing climate change and growing environmental challenges clearly demonstrate the need to build partnerships for economic and social progress through environmental decision-making. “We can no longer ignore the signals that nature itself sends us,” he said.

Reflecting on actions taken by the Government of Uzbekistan towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, several Presidential Decrees on environmental protection and strategic environmental assessments were highlighted. “For the SEA project, the Bostanlik district of Tashkent region was selected as a suitable site for the pilot project,” said Mr. Mukhamedov. He shared the information collected on environmental, social, economic and tourism areas with the expert group.

Mr. Vincent Caupin, Director of AFD in Uzbekistan, praised the Government of Uzbekistan for adapting a strategy for transforming to a green economy model. Mr. Caupin briefly expressed AFD’s commitment e to assist, with GGGI, the Uzbek authorities in piloting such a tool for the Bostanlik area, highlighting the necessity of stakeholder engagement. “When we talk about environmental issues, the views of stakeholders are very important. It should not be a talk-down approach,” Mr. Caupin said.

Then, Dr. Aaron Russell, Country Representative of GGGI Uzbekistan, briefed attendees on SEA project implementation plan and key achievements. The Screening and Scoping Study phases are in progress of implementation as of July 2023. The Screening phase includes collecting documents on the selected Sector Program and progressing in the development of SEA Methodology. The Scoping Study determines the Program’s key environmental aspects and the scope of the environmental baseline, formulates evaluation method recommendations and estimates time, costs and resources for the SEA. Dr. Russell elaborated on the key achievements; sharing the local authorities consulted, consultations conducted with a number of departments under MEEPCC, analysis on collected environmental data & sectoral programs as well as policy documents & sectoral programs reviewed. 

“There is an increasing demand for tourism in Uzbekistan, so it is very appropriate that we prioritize this new approach to assessing policy in this sector,” Dr. Russell noted.

Mr. Akbar Iminov, Representative of FTZ Charvak, presented the Masterplan for Development of FTZ Charvak, discussed its current state and future. He provided details on the land put up for auction through the electronic trading platform on the basis of long-term lease. It will be leased out under the conditions of building additional tourism infrastructure facilities, establishing investment projects that lead to job creation, creating tourist facilities, assisting investors to solve issues related to the timely implementation of projects, measures to apply tax and customs benefits to investors, and cooperation with local and state administrative bodies.

A brief summary of data collected regarding EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) reporting in Bostanlik District was presented by Mr. Bakhrom Kholkhudjaev, Representative of the State Center for Environmental Expertise (SCEE). He elaborated on the issues in question, the needed improvement in the legislation and crucial focuses of the SEA project. Mr. Kholkhudjaev also pointed out a number of potential opportunities, which included improvement of the quality of strategic planning of territories and transition to a green economy model by increasing the efficiency of decision-making, establishment of a transparent system of public opinion research and environmental assessment, organization of green spaces, identification of environmental pollution levels and prediction of negative outcomes, regular monitoring of the use of Natural Resources and environmental assessment of areas. 

Dr. Lilibeth Acosta, Project Manager of SEA, joined the event through a video call and presented environmental data requirements, availability, and sources for SEA Indicators.

“Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) is internationally recognized as a key instrument for integrating environmental and health considerations into strategic planning,” Dr. Acosta emphasized.

Dr. Acosta invited the attendees to participate in a survey on their concerns regarding the environment and group discussions reflecting on priority environmental challenges and potential data sources for policy planning. As a result of the discussions, the groups outlined the following conclusions:

  • Waste management needs improvement, construction waste included.
  • Eco-friendly habits need to be promoted through media and taught in schools and other educational institutions.
  • More recycling bins need to be in place and sizes of the bins must be bigger
  • Recreational zones are polluted with visitors’ trash. Visitors must be urged to clean after themselves.
  • Tree cuttings lead to loss of biodiversity (birds especially) and air pollution exacerbation. Cuttings must be reduced and controlled. Cattle must not be fed freshly planted trees and bushes.
  • Air pollution caused by cars on fuel.
  • The issue of tax evasion by hotels and guesthouses through disposing of trash in an illegal way (throwing trash elsewhere) results in environmental pollution. The issue must be addressed.

After the discussion was finalized and results presented, GGGI announced the next steps of the project for 2023. The second phase of the project, the Scoping Study that consists of collecting data from stakeholders, is already in progress. AFD’s recruitment of an environmental consultancy for the project and a field visit to FTZ “Charvak” are to take place in the third quarter of 2023.