SCO Launches Green Initiatives Amid Climate Challenges
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has intensified its focus on environmental stewardship, declaring 2024 the "Year of Ecology" and 2025 the "Year of Sustainable Development." The bloc, representing over 40% of the global population, aims to harmonize ecological protection with economic growth across Eurasia.
Recent data reveals varying progress among members: protected areas now cover 4.5% of India's landmass, 22.6% in Tajikistan, 14.7% in the Chinese mainland, and 8.6% in Russia. China reported significant milestones, with forest coverage surpassing 25% and forest stock exceeding 20 billion cubic meters in 2024.
Collaborative Strategies for Green Transition
The SCO's dual-year initiative emphasizes cross-border climate resilience projects and clean energy partnerships. Analysts suggest these efforts could position Central and South Asia as testing grounds for scalable sustainability models, particularly in water management and renewable infrastructure.
