Uzbekistan advances a just energy transition with UN Joint SDG Fund support

TASHKENT (ILO News) - Uzbekistan is strengthening the social and employment dimension of its energy transition through the UN Joint SDG Fund project “Promoting a Just Energy Transition in Uzbekistan”, jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Launched during COP29, the 12-month initiative supported national and regional stakeholders to align energy and climate policies with social justice and decent work, so that progress toward a low-carbon economy goes hand in hand with job opportunities, stronger protection for people at risk and inclusive economic development.

The ILO’s contribution focused on what makes a transition “just”: strengthening social dialogue, building the capacity of tripartite partners and bringing labour market and social protection perspectives into climate and energy policy discussions.

Supporting inclusive policy reform through social dialogue

A central project outcome was the development of a Just Energy Transition Roadmap for Uzbekistan. Developed through consultations with government institutions, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and other stakeholders, the Roadmap sets out 22 action packages under five pillars, clarifying institutional responsibilities and sequencing of reforms to translate just transition principles into practical steps.

The ILO supported structured tripartite engagement to build ownership and consensus around the Roadmap and the broader reform agenda. Through dedicated learning and dialogue processes, members of Uzbekistan’s National Tripartite Commission strengthened their understanding of how just transition applies to workers’ rights, employers’ responsibilities, regional employment transitions and the equitable sharing of benefits and costs as the economy diversifies.

In September 2025, a scenario-building foresight workshop brought together around 50 stakeholders, including tripartite constituents, to validate evidence and co-design priorities. This helped move discussions from broad commitments to more concrete choices about “who does what, when” in the transition.

Evidence that informs decisions and investment

To help decision-makers anticipate labour market impacts and design targeted solutions, the joint programme produced three evidence-based policy briefs on:

1. the current landscape and future pathways for a just energy transition;
2. barriers and opportunities for implementation; and
3. social justice in a shrinking town, drawing lessons from Muynak in the Aral Sea region.

The analysis combined national policy review with local evidence from the Aral Sea region, including the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm. The project engaged 460 energy-poor households and vulnerable community members through surveys and consultations, ensuring that lived experiences of energy affordability, livelihoods and resilience shaped the recommendations.

Embedding decent work into climate commitments

The joint programme’s findings were mainstreamed into Uzbekistan’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), helping strengthen the social inclusivity dimension of climate action and providing an entry point for implementation through to 2035. This matters because it links climate ambition with practical measures for employment, skills development and protection of vulnerable groups and regions.

In cooperation with national partners, the results were also presented at the 14th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, helping bring just transition considerations into broader policy discussions on energy reform and sustainable development.

Strengthening national capacity to deliver results

Beyond the knowledge products, the project invested in practical capacity-building so institutions and social partners can carry forward the work. Through foresight and technical workshops, 64 technical specialists from relevant ministries (around 40 per cent women) strengthened their capacity in evidence-based analysis, renewable energy deployment, clean energy transition pathways and just transition principles. A further 71 policy decision-makers (35 per cent women) improved their understanding of green and just energy transition concepts and pathways toward carbon-neutral development.

The programme directly engaged 272 stakeholders and supported broad-based participation and dialogue, with more than 500 participants taking part in policy consultations and stakeholder dialogues at national and regional level.

ILO support

According to Cristina Martinez, ILO Sr Specialist Enterprise Development and Green Jobs, the ILO helped to connect climate and energy reforms with the world of work, and to convene tripartite partners around solutions that are both technically sound and socially acceptable. By supporting dialogue and building shared understanding among government, employers and workers, the project strengthened the foundations for predictable and participatory reforms, including options for skills development, active labour market measures and social protection responses that can cushion the impact of change on workers, enterprises and communities.

Looking ahead, the initiative has helped lay the groundwork for longer-term impact through a knowledge-sharing portal on just transition hosted on the Green Economy Platform, and through a pipeline proposal for follow-up support in the Aral Sea region. Together, these results position Uzbekistan to take further steps toward a low-carbon future that creates opportunities and protects people.

Project publications, including the policy briefs, the Roadmap and the Muynak case study, are available at: https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/promoting-just-energy-transition-uzbekistan