SAMARKAND, June 3. /Dunyo IA/. Sophie Ibbotson, the UK-based Ambassador of Uzbekistan’s tourism brand, has also been appointed as Uzbekistan’s Ambassador for Environmental Affairs. She shared her views in an interview with a correspondent of Dunyo IA.

Speaking about her motivation, Sophie Ibbotson noted that environmental protection and climate change affect almost every aspect of development not only in Uzbekistan but across the world.

“The reason I decided to work in this field is that environmental issues and climate change affect virtually all areas of development – not only in Uzbekistan but globally. This is a topic that must be discussed not only in the context of environmental protection and climate change in Uzbekistan, but also in relation to economic development, socio-cultural issues, politics, and security. Therefore, it is a matter that should concern all of us, and we must take it into account in every decision we make,” she said. –

Ambassador also emphasized that one of the most notable developments in recent years has been the increasing attention the Government of Uzbekistan is paying to environmental issues and climate change.

“One of the most interesting processes I have observed in recent years is how seriously the Government of Uzbekistan has begun to address environmental and climate issues. The restructuring of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, and its transformation into the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, is an example of how the state is elevating the environmental agenda to a priority level in decision-making,” she noted.

According to Sophie Ibbotson, her role as Ambassador for Environmental Affairs will focus on raising awareness about the challenges Uzbekistan is facing, as well as the solutions being developed and implemented in the country.

“My task is to increase awareness of the challenges Uzbekistan faces and the solutions being developed and implemented. This helps strengthen cooperation with international partners, draw attention to existing issues, and attract technical and financial support for joint solutions,” she said.