Environmental degradation in Uzbekistan—from the shrinking Aral Sea to rising urban heat stress—has intensified public concern and placed youth at the forefront of sustainability debates. This article explores how environmental awareness has developed among Uzbek youth since 2021, identifies the educational, social-media, and volunteer mechanisms that shape it, and assesses prospects for deeper engagement by 2030. Using a mixed-methods design, the study triangulates (i) a systematic review of forty-three policy and research documents, (ii) statistical analysis of national programme data, and (iii) a qualitative survey of 145 young eco-activists from six regions conducted between September 2024 and April 2025. Results indicate that the nationwide “Yashil Makon” campaign, digital advocacy networks, and curriculum reforms have raised literacy on climate concepts and stimulated tree-planting, waste-sorting, and eco-entrepreneurship initiatives. Nevertheless, knowledge depth and sustained behaviour vary significantly between urban and rural locales, and institutional bottlenecks limit scaling. The discussion situates Uzbekistan’s case within global youth-environment literature and suggests policy measures such as integrated green curricula, participatory budgeting, and streamlined certification for eco-start-ups. Strengthening youth environmental awareness is shown to be essential to achieving national climate-resilience targets and fostering a culture of ecological stewardship.

Environmental awareness, climate education, eco-volunteerism

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. First Trees Planted in Youth Park. 19 Mar 2024. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

Central Asia Climate Portal. In Uzbekistan, as part of the “Yashil Makon” project, it is planned to plant more than 200 million tree and shrub seedlings. 27 Nov 2024. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

UNDP Uzbekistan. Awareness of Youth in Uzbekistan about Climate Actions and Statement on Youth Views. 2022. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

UNICEF Uzbekistan. Children and Youth Can Drive Transformative Action to Combat Climate Effects. 2024. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

UzDaily. Youth Environmental Campaign “Train to the Aral Sea” — Contribution to the Region’s Sustainable Future. 31 May 2025. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

Youth Climate Actions Network. Uzbekistan Country Page. 2025. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

UNICEF Uzbekistan. Network of School Eco-Activists Across All Regions. Press Release, 2024. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.

UNDP. Youth4Climate Call for Solutions Offers Funding for Youth-Led Climate Initiatives. 2025. Электрон. ресурс. Дата обращения: 08.06.2025.