900 billion soums to be allocated to the Environmental Fund by the end of the year

Uzbekistan has disclosed how much funding is planned for measures aimed at improving air quality. This was announced on 3 December during a session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

At the session, the draft law “On the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2026” was discussed. In particular, MP Mohira Khojaeva asked: “How much funding has been allocated to equip first- and second-category industrial enterprises with modern filtration and purification systems? Will these funds be sufficient to ensure the effectiveness of the required measures to improve air quality?”

The question was answered by Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change.

“Additional revenue for 2026, according to our forecasts, will amount to 548 billion soums. A special commission is working to improve the environmental situation in Tashkent, and a 24-hour operational headquarters has been established. Work is being carried out in three directions. Yesterday, tasks were set for both short-term and long-term systemic issues. These measures must be scientifically justified and based on calculations. All the issues you raised have been taken into account. We are preparing the plan, and I assure you that the new system will fully ensure the effectiveness of these efforts,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov also commented on this question.

“We were instructed, by decision, to allocate 900 billion soums in 2025 and transfer it to the fund (referring to the State Targeted Fund for Eliminating Nationwide Environmental Problems). We will transfer the 900 billion soums to the fund by the end of the year. In the next budget readings, everything will be placed accordingly, and we believe that neither Mohira Mirzakhmatova nor other deputies will have any doubts about whether the allocated funds for this sector are sufficient,” the minister said.

For reference, the establishment of the State Targeted Fund for Eliminating Nationwide Environmental Problems was outlined in the presidential resolution dated 18 November 2025. According to the document, the fund will operate under the Committee on Ecology to finance nationwide environmental projects, research, and programmes aimed at resolving environmental problems. The fund’s revenue sources include 900 billion soums allocated from the state budget in 2025 and 548 billion soums from the 2026 budget.

Starting from 1 January 2026, 20 percent of revenue from carbon unit trading, designated portions of fines and compensation payments for environmental damage, and 10 percent of the recycling fee paid for imported vehicles will also be directed to the fund.

It is worth noting that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s eldest daughter, Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva, previously chaired a meeting of the special commission on air quality in Tashkent.