Green University · Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies
Science that moves policy. Leadership for a resilient Central Asia.
Conceived not as a conventional academic programme, but as a strategic national asset — linking world-class science to decision-making across Central Asia.
Purpose & Strategic Rationale
The Climate Residency responds directly to escalating regional challenges — water scarcity, glacier retreat, land degradation, energy transition, and climate-induced socio-economic risks — by creating a permanent, high-credibility platform that links science to decision-making.
Cutting-edge, interdisciplinary climate science tailored to Central Asia's unique ecological and socio-economic realities — conducted by residents hosted for 6–12 months, working alongside national institutions, ministries, and regional partners.
Training and mentoring Uzbek and Central Asian researchers through hands-on collaboration with leading international scientists, building a new generation of regional climate experts and future leaders.
Direct pathways from science to policy — producing policy briefs for ministries, technical inputs to national strategies and NDCs, and structured expert review mechanisms that inform evidence-based governance.
Hosting visiting researchers and actively exploring joint research initiatives with leading climate research institutions worldwide. The program serves as a trusted national and regional interface for international financial institutions and donors.
Program Ecosystem
The Climate Residency operates as an integrated platform combining research, education, policy engagement, and industry partnership — each pillar reinforcing the others.
A proposed 5-nation scientific body providing regional scientific coordination, synthesis of climate science, and advisory support to governments across Central Asia — an independent regional scientific authority.
Training and capacity building through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes and annual Summer Schools for regional researchers and practitioners.
A tiered partnership model engaging strategic industry partners in energy, water, and agriculture; climate-tech startups; and knowledge partners — supporting technology transfer and investment readiness.
An annual high-level forum convening governments, scientists, industry leaders, and international organisations — the primary regional dialogue platform and showcase for Climate Residency outputs.
Commissioned research, climate risk assessments, capacity building, and technical assistance for development finance institutions including ADB, World Bank, UNDP, and EBRD.
Research fellowships operating through both targeted strategic calls and open independent research applications, attracting global talent to Central Asia's climate challenges.
Strategic Outputs & Benefits
Each component generates concrete benefits for governments, researchers, industry, and communities — all contributing to Uzbekistan's role as a regional architect of climate solutions.
Research translated into actionable briefs and technical inputs for government decision-makers at national and regional level.
An authoritative annual assessment covering regional climate trends, sectoral impacts, and evidence-based policy recommendations — the region's citable reference document.
A new generation of Central Asian climate professionals equipped to lead policy and practice independently across the region.
Climate tech deployment and partnerships bridging research with commercial and development finance applications.
Research outputs and pilot projects structured to attract co-funding and implementation from multilateral development banks.
Through CASICC, harmonised regional climate policy and strengthened convening power for Central Asian governments.
The Central Asia Scientific Intergovernmental Council on Climate Change (CASICC) is a cornerstone of the program — a proposed independent scientific body serving Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Analogous in function to the IPCC at regional level, CASICC enables harmonised climate policy, strengthens Uzbekistan's convening power, and provides legitimacy for regional donor and development finance engagement.
Research Agenda
The research agenda reflects national priorities and regional climate risks, aligned with global scientific standards. All outputs prioritise direct policy relevance.
Transboundary water systems, glacier retreat, hydrological modelling, and water security using AI-based forecasting tools.
Early-warning systems, predictive modelling, and decision-support tools using machine learning and advanced data analytics.
Solar, wind, hybrid systems, storage, and system optimisation for arid and semi-arid regions. Site selection and predictive maintenance.
Sustainable land use, halophyte plants, salinity management, climate-smart agriculture, and food security in arid environments.
Climate-resilient infrastructure, heat mitigation, urban adaptation strategies, green urban planning, and circular economy approaches.
Ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, desertification control, climate governance, and climate law and policy frameworks.
Governance & Leadership
The program operates under a transparent, multi-stakeholder governance model built on the principles of accountability and collaborative leadership — aligned with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change.
Senior leader with a minimum of 10 years in climate science or policy research. Responsible for daily operations, budget management, international engagement, and reporting to the Advisory Council.
10–15 members: local experts from Green University, NCCC, and the Ministry of Ecology, alongside international academics drawn from world-leading research institutions. Meets quarterly; conducts annual strategic review.
Specialized working groups on water management, agricultural adaptation, renewable energy, and AI-based climate solutions. Responsible for proposal review, peer review, and training workshops.
Fellowship Pathways
Open to national and international applicants. Residents engage with policymakers, academia, and civil society throughout their stay — concluding with contributions to national strategies.
Researchers bring their own innovative ideas aligned with the program's broad themes of climate adaptation, AI in climate science, sustainable energy, water governance, and urban planning.
The Advisory Council, in consultation with the NCCC, identifies strategic research priorities and issues open calls for researchers to address specific, urgent regional climate challenges.
How to Apply
A structured annual cycle providing ample time for researchers to prepare high-quality proposals. All stages are conducted transparently with clear evaluation criteria.
Annual call for independent proposals and targeted research calls.
All proposals submitted via the online application portal.
Two-stage review: national experts then international peer review.
Selected fellows notified; residency agreements finalised.
Fellows onboarded, introduced to facilities and begin research.
Get in Touch
The Climate Residency Program welcomes enquiries from researchers, scientists, and practitioners at any time — not only during the formal application cycle.
If your work addresses an urgent environmental challenge facing Uzbekistan or Central Asia, we encourage you to reach out directly. Research proposals that strongly resonate with the region's climate priorities — water security, ecosystem vulnerability, energy transition, food security, or climate-induced socio-economic risks — may be considered on a rolling basis outside of the standard timeline.
For research enquiries, fellowship questions, partnership discussions, or to explore collaboration opportunities, write to us directly.
✉ Email the Program TeamClimate Residency Program
Green University
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Please include a brief description of your research interest and how it relates to climate challenges in Central Asia. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 10 working days.
Funding & Partnerships
A strategic mix of government, academic, industry, and development funding ensures long-term stability, research independence, and the ability to pursue ambitious research goals.
Core operational funding, strategic research calls, and infrastructure support aligned with Presidential Decree PF-106.
We are keen to explore joint collaboration with world-leading international climate research institutions — co-funding, shared datasets, and joint research initiatives.
Corporate partnerships in solar, wind, and AI sectors — co-funding for applied research, access to technology platforms and industry data.
UNDP, GEF, World Bank, ADB, and EBRD — grants for climate adaptation, resilience projects, and commissioned research and technical assistance.
An authoritative annual assessment published by the Climate Residency — the region's definitive citable reference document for policy and investment decisions.
Why It Matters
The Climate Residency positions Uzbekistan not only as a participant in regional climate dialogue, but as its architect — consistent with the President's international climate vision.
Establishes Uzbekistan as the definitive reference point for climate science and evidence-based policy across Central Asia.
Directly supports implementation of PF-106 and Uzbekistan's national commitments to environmental sustainability and climate action.
Targeting the Aral Sea degradation, glacier retreat, water scarcity, and desertification with rigorous, applied science and policy-relevant outputs.
Building a self-sustaining community of Central Asian climate scientists and policy leaders capable of driving innovation independently.
Enhancing Uzbekistan's role in international climate diplomacy and providing a trusted interface for IFIs, bilateral agencies, and global research networks.
Supporting Uzbekistan's ambition to lead in South-South and East-West environmental cooperation as a bridge between regions and development partners.