ASTANA, February 28, 2023 – Today the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan jointly with the World Bank and Kazakhstan Association "ECOJER" launched a series of policy dialogues to support Kazakhstan in implementing its critical climate and environmental strategies, including the transition to a low-carbon economy, air quality management, and resilience to climate change. The first of the workshop series held today focused on supporting Kazakhstan''s transition to carbon neutrality by 2060.
Kazakhstan made a bold leap forward on a newly charted course for the country''s development by adopting The Strategy on Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2060. Approved by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on February 2, 2023, the strategy sets ambitious net-zero carbon goals for climate action and identifies key technological transformations needed for the country''s decarbonization. To achieve these transformations, the country will require determining and implementing effective and targeted policies and programs across the whole of the country''s economy.
"Our goal is to reduce our carbon footprint and use the benefits of sustainable economic growth, improved public health and reduced climate risks. Net investment in low-carbon technologies is estimated at $610 billion. This will certainly lead to the emergence of new and expanding existing markets and niches for domestic manufacturers, and stimulate the creation of high-skilled jobs," said Alibek Kuantyrov, Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Participants of the first policy dialogue discussed a roadmap for the implementation of the government policies, measures, and investments in support of the approved strategy. The event also provided a forum for the experts to share best practices and experience in low-carbon policy implementation in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland.
"The recently adopted strategy for Kazakhstan''s transition to carbon neutrality attests to the government''s resolve to pivot towards a growth model that is driven less by fossil fuels and more by investments in climate-smart industries in water, agriculture, and rangelands management. This broad economic transformation will require an enabling environment centered on policies, investments, and ensuring a just transition for people and communities," says Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan.
To help Kazakhstan prioritize the most impactful actions that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost climate change adaptation while delivering on broader development goals and carbon-neutral future, the World Bank recently published Kazakhstan Country Climate and Development Report. The report suggests main pathways to support Kazakhstan''s low-carbon, resilient transition.
"Reduction of greenhouse emissions is a non-alternative course for Kazakhstan and there is an obvious need for legislative instruments. Today, government agencies need to develop the implementation roadmap, and the industry needs to get clear messages - in which direction they will move in the coming decades and what kind of support from the government they can count on. Such dialogues needed to ensure a balance of interests of state bodies and institutions, to identify business opportunities, and get knowledge of the best world experience, so that we can achieve our goals and improve the environmental situation in the country," said Lazzat Ramazanova, Chairman of the Council of the Kazakhstan Association "ECOJER".
The policy dialogues series aims to provide a robust platform for multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral engagement. By bringing together Kazakhstan''s government agencies, the private sector, civil society, academia, international development organizations, and the world''s leading experts, the dialogues aim to foster collaboration and action to accelerate the implementation of Kazakhstan''s carbon neutrality targets as well as low-emission development strategy, international climate action commitments, and adaptation measures. The focus of the series'' next policy dialogues scheduled in April and June 2023 will be on air pollution reduction and climate change adaptation in support of Kazakhstan''s climate and development goals.
ASTANA, November 3, 2022 – Effective climate action to reduce carbon emissions could help Kazakhstan diversify its fossil fuel-dependent economy and open up new drivers of economic growth and prosperity for its people, says a pioneering World Bank report released today.
According to the Kazakhstan Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), transitioning to a more sustainable economy can open up three potentially important areas of opportunity for Kazakhstan: (1) energy efficiency and clean energy production (2) extraction of minerals critical for the low carbon transition globally; and (3) greater participation in global trade value chains that are increasingly becoming ''green.''
The cost of inaction would be significant. Climate shocks could shrink Kazakhstan''s economy by 1.6% by 2050, increase poverty by 3%, and decrease real wages by 2.1%. If the rest of the world decarbonizes and Kazakhstan does not, it could suffer a consistent long-term contraction in growth of 2-2.5% a year.
"In order to achieve its aspiration of becoming one of the world''s top economies by 2050, Kazakhstan needs a growth model that is less dependent on fossil fuels and more dependent on investment in new sectors and technologies over time," said Anna Bjerde, World Bank Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia region. "We look forward to partnering with Kazakhstan on a green and people-centered transition to increase productivity and protect lives and livelihoods."
The report calls for a deep decarbonization of the energy sector, which is responsible for over 80% of the country''s carbon emissions due to Kazakhstan''s near-complete dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal for heating and power, and oil and gas for export revenues. It also emphasizes the need for a people-centered transition out of coal as well as climate-smart agriculture and careful management of water resources.
It identifies ways in which Kazakhstan can achieve its development objectives while transitioning to a greener, more resilient, and inclusive development pathway. It recommends policy reforms and investments in the following priority areas:
"Kazakhstan''s shift toward a greener, less resource-dependent economy is vital and will require the mobilization of large amounts of private capital. For that to happen, the country will need to undertake a number of actions," said Hela Cheikhrouhou, International Finance Corporation''s Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. "Reducing the state''s role in the economy, developing a comprehensive climate policy, greening the financial sector, and implementing climate-smart infrastructure projects will help unlock investment, while putting the country on a low emission and climate resilient path."
The economic risks of inaction could be considerable for Kazakhstan. For example, demand for Kazakh oil and gas will decline over time should countries act to meet their climate targets, and demand for goods produced using fossil fuel-intensive energy are at risk from global climate policies, such as the European Union''s (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). According to World Bank estimates, Kazakhstan could lose over $250 million a year in export earnings due to CBAM, with the iron and steel sector at most risk. These losses could rise to $1.5 billion in the future if CBAM is extended to include oil.
"Kazakhstan has established a solid framework for tackling climate change. However, the country will need to substantially strengthen its policy ambition and implement concrete actions on mitigation and adaptation. Robust programs in water resources, agriculture, and decarbonization of the energy sector could provide the foundations for a broader economic base to ensure prosperity for the people of Kazakhstan," said Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia.
The country''s vast steppes have globally competitive wind and solar power resources. Clean renewable power could not only become Kazakhstan''s dominant domestic energy source, but a significant export commodity as well.
Kazakhstan is also well-placed to take advantage of the growing global demand for critical minerals needed for low carbon technologies. It has the world''s largest developed reserves of zinc, tungsten and baryte; it is second globally for copper and fluorite and has 10% of the world reserves of iron ore. Kazakhstan is also the largest uranium producer and exporter in the world, with 25% of the world''s uranium reserves, positioning it well as a supplier of highly valued rare earth elements.
The country has already started producing electric vehicles (EVs), building on strengths and opportunities in the EV value chain. The climate transition offers increased opportunities to participate in higher value-added sectors by tapping into emerging green global value chains.
World Bank Group''s Country Climate and Development Report
The World Bank Group''s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are new core diagnostic reports that integrate climate change and development considerations. They will help countries prioritize the most impactful actions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation, while delivering on broader development goals.
CCDRs build on data and rigorous research. They identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support the low-carbon, climate resilient transition.
The first CCDRs are being produced for 25 countries this year, before being rolled out to all World Bank Group countries over the next four years. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector, and development partners and enable engagements with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs will feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements, and operations, and help attract funding and direct financing for high-impact climate action.
The Kazakhstan Country Climate and Development Report explores how climate action, in line with the country''s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2060, interacts with its growth and development path and contributes to achieving the country''s development objective of economic diversification.
Photo credit: UNDP Kazakhstan, High-Level Event "Ways to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and Kazakhstan''s carbon neutrality", Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 13 October 2021
Today Kazakhstan''s vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 has been presented at the high-Level event in Nur-Sultan. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and UNDP Regional Director for Europe and the CIS, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger opened the event.John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, addressed the audience in a recorded video message.
"Kazakhstan is consistent in its support to the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres''s call for achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions. Today we will discuss what we must do to achieve our common goal", said President Tokayev.
Photo credit:Akorda Press Office, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is speaking at the High-Level Event dedicated to the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement and Kazakhstan''s carbon neutrality, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 13 October 2021
In December 2020, at the Climate Ambitions Summit, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced an ambitious goal - to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, then reaffirming Kazakhstan''s strong commitment to fighting climate change and taking targeted action under the Paris agreement.
"Green transition depends on getting the financing right. It requires bringing public and private sectors together. In Kazakhstan, UNDP has been deploying catalytic and innovative instruments to mobilize private sector investments in sustainable development, such as carbon offsetting, energy efficiency subsidies, loan guarantee schemes, and green bonds. On public funding, more effective domestic resource allocation through the national budget, which prioritizes a sustainable and low-carbon infrastructure, should be high on the agenda. That is why UNDP is calling for an end to fossil fuel subsidies as the critical step to divest from fossil fuels and invest in both people and the planet", said Ms. Spoljaric Egger at the event in Nur-Sultan.
Photo credit: UNDP Kazakhstan, The welcoming speech of the UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Europe, and the CIS Mirjana Spoljaric Egger at the High-Level Event dedicated to the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement and Kazakhstan''s carbon neutrality, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 13 October 2021
This national long-term strategy on emissions reduction and economy decarbonization will be presented at the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP26) - the world''s major climate event - which will take place from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, the United Kingdom. The leaders of 196 countries will gather to coordinate their actions in the fight against climate change for the people and the planet.
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