H.E. Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at the Uzbekistan Pavilion during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), held in Antalya, Türkiye. The two sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in environmental protection and climate action, and to draw on Uzbekistan’s experience in greening higher education.

Dr. AlMalik affirmed that ICESCO would work to promote Uzbekistan’s Green University and its specialized programs in the fields of environment and climate, as well as support a number of young people from ICESCO Member States in pursuing their studies there. H.E. the Advisor outlined the University’s experience in integrating sustainability into higher education and highlighted the opportunities its programs offer to equip young people with the skills needed to contribute to addressing environmental and climate challenges.

H.E. Mr. Abdukhakimov expressed Uzbekistan’s interest in cooperating with ICESCO to adopt some of the environmental initiatives launched by H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and extend their benefits to the Organization’s Member States. He also emphasized the importance of engaging young people in environmental protection and climate action, noting that the participation of a group of young Uzbek men and women in the Conference would give them an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge into climate and environmental challenges.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the strong ties between ICESCO and Uzbekistan, noting that the first joint action plan had been completed and that work was underway to finalize the second, which would include projects to be implemented over two years. He stressed the importance of incorporating into the forthcoming plan the initiatives put forward by H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the Transforming Education Summit, particularly those aimed at strengthening cooperation with international organizations and expanding the role of young people in environmental protection and climate action.

The Director-General proposed that ICESCO contribute to the scientific program of the Uzbekistan Pavilion during the 32nd Conference of the Parties (COP32), scheduled to take place in Ethiopia in 2027, by organizing a series of lectures and seminars at the pavilion on the Conference’s objectives and the environmental and climate initiatives launched by H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.