Uzbekistan and UN partners discuss scaling up just energy transition efforts

TASHKENT (ILO News) — The Government of Uzbekistan, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the ILO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), with support from the UN Resident Coordinator Office, convened a national roundtable on 4 November 2025 to discuss scaling up project results in promoting a just energy transition in Uzbekistan.

Organized under the UN Joint SDG Fund–supported project Promoting a Just Energy Transition in Uzbekistan, the event brought together representatives of government institutions, the Republican Tripartite Commission, international development partners and civil society organizations. The roundtable provided a platform to review the key outcomes of the Joint Programme and to discuss pathways for advancing its recommendations at the national level.

Discussions highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking, coordinated action and strong partnerships in supporting Uzbekistan’s green transformation. Participants reviewed progress made under the programme, including analytical work, stakeholder consultations and policy dialogue aimed at integrating just transition principles into national energy and climate policies.

Over the course of the programme, UN partners supported the development of the Just Energy Transition (JET) Roadmap, a comprehensive framework designed through foresight analysis and broad stakeholder engagement. The Roadmap identifies 22 priority actions to guide a fair and inclusive energy transition, including the establishment of a national JET Delivery Unit, the creation of a Just Transition Fund, and the launch of pilot initiatives in regions such as Karakalpakstan and Khorezm.

The roundtable emphasized the value of the UN’s integrated approach, combining technical expertise on energy systems and decarbonization, policy support for sustainable economic transformation and a strong focus on social dialogue, decent work and social protection. This collaboration aims to address the multidimensional challenges associated with the energy transition.

Participants underlined that a managed transition has the potential to deliver significant economic and employment benefits, while also requiring targeted support for workers, sectors, and regions most exposed to structural change. Strengthening national capacities, investing in skills development, and reinforcing social protection systems were identified as essential to ensure that no one is left behind.

The discussion also stressed the importance of continued donor engagement and partnerships to pilot integrated solutions in vulnerable regions, including Karakalpakstan, Khorezm and Angren. These pilots will combine decarbonization efforts, renewable energy deployment, reskilling initiatives, and local economic diversification, generating evidence and lessons learned for scaling up across the country.

The roundtable concluded by reaffirming the shared commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan and its UN partners to advance the principles of a Just Energy Transition within the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and long-term development strategies, contributing to Uzbekistan’s vision of a green, resilient, and inclusive economy.