Uzbekistan is planning a fundamental revision of its penalty system for environmental violations, as current measures have failed to deter offenders. Statistics show a worrying trend: while over 47,000 violations were recorded in 2024, the number exceeded 59,000 in 2025.

Due to the disproportion between fines and actual damage, many enterprises find it cheaper to pay the penalty and continue operations without addressing environmental consequences. During a presentation on environmental sustainability, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved measures to sharply increase financial liability in this area.

The head of state emphasized the need to align sanctions with international practice, making them proportionate to the harm caused. Specifically, it is proposed to merge administrative fines and compensation payments into a single financial sanction, simplifying the prosecution process.

Under the new rules, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change will have the authority to impose these sanctions independently when the enterprise admits guilt. Special attention will be paid to combating illegal extraction of non-metallic materials from riverbeds, tree felling, water pollution, and construction dust emissions.

These measures aim to create conditions where strict compliance with environmental requirements becomes economically more beneficial for businesses than violating them.

Source: podrobno.uz