Uzbekistan and climate change problem
Uzbekistan’s position
Acknowledging the importance of climate change problem and necessity of taking of rapid measures on mitigation of its consequences Uzbekistan signed UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1993 and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 1999.Government of Republic of Uzbekistan entrusted the Centre of Hydrometeorological Service (Uzhydromet) at the Cabinet of the Ministers with functions of realization of obligation on UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In accordance with its obligations, Uzbekistan presents to UNFCCC data on the following subjects:
- National conditions and peculiarities of the country
- National GHG Inventory
- Forecasts of GHG emissions
- Emission reduce potential assessment and necessary measures
- Climate observation systems and climate researches information
- Climate change consequences assessment and possible ways of adaptation
- Public awareness on climate change problems
- Possibilities strengthening for UNFCCC obligations fulfillment in Uzbekistan
As other countries signed the UNFCC Convention, Uzbekistan realizes projects directed to the obligations fulfillment. The first step towards fulfillment of the obligations was the project “Uzbekistan – country study on climate change” under support of GEF and UNDP. The Initial National Communication of Republic of Uzbekistan under UNFCCC was worked out and represented in 1999.The report includes description of national conditions, GHG inventory data, forecasts of GHG emissions in period till 2010, general description of GHG emission reduce measures in Uzbekistan, preliminary assessment of vulnerability for climate change and characteristic of possible ways of adaptation.
Researches on the this project had shown that major GHG is carbon dioxide, which compiles 67% of all emissions and one of the most powerful sources of CO2 emissions appears to be energy sector of Uzbekistan , concretely energy production and use.
The second significant GHG is methane (about 27%). ? of methane emissions emit from mining, transportation of natural gas, production of oil and coal. Agricultural part of methane emissions is also significant. The most part of it is released by rice cultivation and also here are emissions from intestinal fermentations of ruminants.
1990-1994 tendency of GHG emission cut changed to the opposite one in the year 1996. It is clear, that CO2 emission change is being caused by general dynamic of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Unfortunately, energy efficiency at national economy branches remains law.
During the work on this project had been found the ways of GHG emission reduce in Uzbekistan. The main directions are the followings:
- greenhouse gas emissions reduce in fuel-energy complex;
- energy efficiency rising in the housing-municipal sector;
- lowering of methane leakage in oil-gas sector;
- expanding of renewable energy resources usage.
Elaboration of project offers, directed to modernization of fuel-energy objects, development of renewable energy sources and household waste disposal is being held in the Republic under support of international organizations.