Uzbekistan’s ancient shrines, mosques, and legendary Silk Road reflect its long and extraordinary history. Vibrant local bazaars, clay-coloured houses, and medieval monuments are just some of the many sights to behold within its borders—borders that house a total of five United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites.
Critical to Uzbekistan’s protection of this rich culture is the sound management of chemicals and waste that can compromise the wellbeing of people, their livelihoods, and their natural resources.
Ratifying the Basel and the Stockholm conventions marked a major step in Uzbekistan’s journey to better protect its citizens and ecosystems. Likewise, its plan to ratify the Rotterdam Convention and the Minamata Convention is another demonstration of its strong commitment to the same goal. Yet like many countries, Uzbekistan has realized that a desire to fulfil its obligations under these important environmental treaties is not enough: the capacity to do so is paramount.
In recognition of this, the country has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Chemicals and Waste Management Programme on a two-year project to build its capacity to adhere to the UN-backed environmental agreements.
Currently, the government is strengthening coordination between the institutions responsible for managing chemicals, including obsolete pesticides and persistent organic pollutants.
To ensure all stakeholders are working towards the same vision, the project will fund the establishment of a National Coordinating Council (NCC) comprising representatives of ministries, agencies, and public organizations whose mandates include the sound management of chemicals and waste.
By operating in an efficient, transparent, and accountable manner, the NCC aims to develop legislative and regulatory frameworks, monitor and report on chemicals and waste, and educate the public on environmental issues. A special focus of the project is raising awareness about the link between chemicals and gender, involving women's organizations in the planning and implementing of these and other key activities.
Another challenge to effective chemicals management is the lack of a central database providing systematized, timely, and appropriate information on locally produced and imported chemicals. A national chemicals register, to be developed as part of the project, will address this issue. Producers and importers will be obliged to submit relevant information on chemicals to the registry.
In concert with this registry, Uzbekistan will establish an Information and Resource Center and a national information website. Managed by the Center for Specialized Analytical Environmental Control, the center and website will prove critical for the exchange of information on chemicals and wastes. Through the establishment of these two clearinghouses, stakeholders will be able to generate and access examples of good practice regarding the implementation of international agreements in different countries as well as challenges and opportunities faced by other governments.
The project also intends to train all project stakeholders. These capacity-building efforts will focus on the sound management of chemicals in industrial, agricultural, and transport sectors; the analysis of the existing legislation on chemicals management; and successes and challenges in implementing chemicals agreements in Uzbekistan. To meet the needs of a broader target group, an online course will also be offered.
Once fully implemented, Uzbekistan’s multifaced effort surrounding sound chemicals management would not only be a boon for the environment but for the country’s economy as well as its status as a travel destination.
For further information, please contact the Special Programme Secretariat at unepchemicalsspecialprogramme@un.org
