Ecologic Policy Reforms in Uzbekistan
On November 19, 2025, the Presidential Decree No. UP-217 and Presidential Resolution No. PP-343 were adopted aiming at reshaping the Government’s approach to environmental policy and signaling a markedly strengthened focus on ecology and climate matters. The Ministry of Ecology, Climate Change and Environmental Protection (the “Ministry”) has been transformed into the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change (the “Committee”), now institutionally separated from the rest of the Government and accountable directly to the Parliament and the President. A new Ecological Police has been established under the Committee as a specialised law-enforcement authority. These institutional changes are complemented by tighter administrative oversight of environmental violations, a renewed emphasis on tree protection and mechanisms for active public involvement, collectively reflecting a more enforcement-driven and participatory approach to environmental governance. The key developments are summarised below:
Institutional upgrade of environmental oversight
The former Ministry has been transformed into the Committee, which is no longer a part of the Cabinet of Ministers and is directly subordinated to the Parliament and the President. The Committee’s territorial bodies will not be subordinate to local municipalities. The Committee assumes all functions of the former Ministry and the Cabinet’s powers in the environmental sphere and will implement a list of nationwide ecologic initiatives. The Chair of the Committee will also serve as the President’s Adviser on environmental policy.
The State Inspectorate for Ecological Control (Ecopolice) has been established under the Committee by merging the Ministry’s inspectorate and the specialised regional environmental prosecutor’s offices. Ecopolice will monitor compliance with environmental law and prosecute violations. Its officers are authorised to use physical force, special means (including electroshock devices) and service weapons (rubber-bullet and net-projectile systems) and will be equipped with body cameras.
No more incentives and exemptions
Starting from March 1, 2026:
- all existing legal acts and legally binding instructions, granting exemptions from compensation payments for environmental harm, will be ceased;
- no public authority may issue exemptions for enterprises from environmental compensation payments, unless such exemption is expressly established by a law, and not by subordinate legislation;
- issuance of documents that exempt entities from compliance with environmental legislation, including conclusions of the state environmental expertise, as well as governmental resolutions, orders, minutes and written instructions permitting the cutting or relocation of trees and shrubs, will be prohibited.
These rules apply both to new projects involving land allocation and construction and ongoing projects where facilities have already been commissioned and where exemptions were previously granted by special Presidential Resolutions or resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers. All such exemptions will lapse, and compensation payments must be made to the state budget.
New construction projects requiring tree felling will no longer be able to obtain exemptions from compensation payments, unless a specific exemption is established by a law.
Public prohibition on repurposing tree-covered lands
Starting from April 1, 2026, residents of cities and townships may initiate a prohibition on the seizure and reallocation of tree-covered land plots for other purposes via Public Services Centres or the Unified Portal for Interactive Public Services. Once at least 10 percent of the local population supports the initiative, the land plot may not be seized or reallocated.
The minimum threshold of tree coverage required to use this mechanism has not yet been defined. This instrument is believed to be aimed at protecting national parks, green zones and similar areas from seizure and repurpose. Further clarifications may need to be sought.
Strengthened administrative policy
Enterprises in environmental impact categories I and II that fail to install baseline monitoring stations and connect them to the new National Center for Environmental Monitoring will be subject to a fivefold increase in compensation payments.
Starting 1 April 2026, financial sanctions for environmental violations will apply only to legal entities; directors, CEOs and equivalent officers will no longer be subject to administrative fines. The list of sanctionable violations include those related to river maintenance, water protection, trees and shrubs, air pollution (including at construction sites and when burning fuel or waste) and waste management.
Instructions have been issued to develop: (i) “Environmental Activity Standards for Construction”, requiring construction companies, before commencing works, to install baseline monitoring stations and online cameras at sites meeting international standards and to comply with other environmental requirements; and (ii) a wind-sensitive construction standard, based on international practice, requiring construction to be planned and carried out with due regard to prevailing wind directions and wind speed, including requirements for buildings and their siting and a procedure for obtaining prior opinions from construction, environmental and cadastral authorities.
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