ISLAMABAD, November 11. /Dunyo IA/. Pakistani media are giving extensive coverage to the international environmental and climate initiatives of Uzbekistan and its participation in COP31 in Antalya, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

“Associated Press of Pakistan” (APP), country’s central news agency, has published an article highlighting how global climate change is affecting the riverside ecosystems of Uzbekistan. According to the agency, scientists of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan have conducted long-term research on tugai forests along the Amu Darya, Syr Darya and Zarafshan rivers, as well as around the Aydar–Arnasay Lake System. Tree-ring width in the Amu Darya basin declined from 6.96 millimetres in 1949 to 2.46 millimetres in 2022, while in the Syr Darya basin it fell from 11.26 to 1.95 millimetres over the period from 1965 to 2022.

Online publication “Pakistan in the World”, in an article entitled “COP31: Uzbekistan to Present New Climate Initiatives and Practical Solutions to the International Community”, writes that at the conference, taking place from November 9^th to 20^th, Uzbekistan is presenting national initiatives in the areas of climate change mitigation, environmental protection and the transition to a green economy. One of the main venues will be the National Pavilion of Uzbekistan, where thematic events are scheduled with the participation of government agencies, international organisations, financial institutions, scientists, businesses and young people.

“News Network Pakistan” notes that participation in COP31 contributes to strengthening the country’s climate diplomacy. According to the publication, Uzbekistan has updated its commitments under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity per unit of GDP by 50 percent by 2035 compared with the 2010 level and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2055.