26 May 2015

The new initiatives for Kazakhstan’s agenda on climate

On 21, May, 2015 in the Debate Hall of Independence Palace in Astana the Scientific Research and Education Center “Green Academy”, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Economic Research Institute of MNE of RK, with support from UNDP and USAID conducted the Panel session «Decarbonization and carbon trading – the drivers of the new economy» in the framework of the VIII Astana Economic Forum.

At the upcoming Conference of the UNFCCC in December 2015, international community is expected to adopt the countries’ quantitative commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In accordance with the recommendations of the UNFCCC, there are plans to tighten emissions regulation at the international level and to introduce new standards, technological requirements, carbon trading and accounting of emissions during the implementation of international projects. Presently, the top 15 countries producers of carbon (US, Japan, UK, Russia, China, Indonesia, and others) have begun to develop strategies for decarbonization, involving regulation and comprehensive measures to ‘purify’ the carbon from the national economies through sharply reducing emissions, introduction of innovative green technologies, including renewable energy, and developing the carbon market.

A priority area of decarbonization is the development of carbon trading. National reports of EU, USA, Japan and other countries show that carbon trading is an effective mechanism for promoting measures to reduce emissions and attract “green” investments. This is relevant in the context of global financial instability.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has significant carbon potential which is necessary to use, in accordance with international standards of carbon finance. In the framework of the panel representatives of government bodies, international organizations, academia, business and NGO discussed the priorities and prospects of the low-carbon development of the economy of Kazakhstan.

The participants were welcomed by the Minister of energy of the Republic Kazakhstan Mr. V. Shkolnik, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development of the Senate of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. S. Plotnikov and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan (United Kingdom) Ms. C. Browne.

Member of the Council on “Green” Economy under the President of RK, Director of the SREC “Green Academy” Dr. B. Yessekina was moderator of the event. Participants were familiarized with reports and presentations of famous scientists and experts on decarbonization of the economy and carbon trading: Jeremy Oppenheim , Senior Partner McKinsey & Company, Programme Director for the 'Better Growth, Better Climate'; Henri Waisman, Coordinator of the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Program, IDDRI (France) ; Amy Lovejoy, Director of Economic Development Office, USAID/Central Asian Republics; Georgy Safonov, Dr., Director of the Centre for Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Higher School of Economics of the Russian Federation; Aida Sitdikova, Director, Energy and natural resources in Russia and Central Asia, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Sergey Tsoi, Deputy General Director of the JSC "ZhasylDamu"(Kazakhstan).

The session discussed the trends of decarbonization of the economy and prospects for the development of carbon trading and carbon finance at the international and national levels.

At result, participants developed the recommendations for the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on development and stimulating measures of decarbonization and carbon trading, and country recommendations for the preparation to the new climate agreement.

Contacts: Dostyk Str., 20, Sankt-Petersburg Business center,

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