On January 12, 2018 a round table on the theme “Perspectives and mechanisms for transition of Astana city to low-carbon development” was held in the conference hall of the Akimat of Astana city. The round table was organized by the Akimat of Astana city and Scientific Research and Educational Center “Green Academy” with the support of the International Financial Center “Astana” and company “Kaukointernational Central Asia” (Finland).
The event was held with the aim of discussing the effective international experience of city decarbonization and developing recommendations on the development of a strategy for the transition of Astana city to low-carbon development.
At the opening of the event Akim of Astana city Mr. Asset Issekeshev noted that within the framework of the Message “New opportunities for development in the conditions of the fourth industrial revolution” President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev asked the akimats to take effective measures to manage natural resources and increase the requirements for energy efficiency and energy saving of enterprises, as well as the environmental friendliness and efficiency of the energy producers.
During the speech also was noted that climatic influences are becoming a factor that negatively affects not only the health of the population but also poses a threat to the normal life of the whole megalopolis. In this regard, the akimat of the city announces 2018, the year of the 20th anniversary of the capital, as the Year of ecology and energy efficiency. In the current year it is planned to develop strategic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste in the long term.
The Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Gani Sadibekov in his turn added that the Ministry of Energy plans to begin work on the preparation of the technical task for the Strategy on low-carbon development of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030. Funding for this project was approved by the Assembly of the Partnership for market readiness (PMR) of the World Bank.
One of the partners in organizing the round table was the Finnish company “Kaukointernational Central Asia”. In this regard, Ambassador of Finland Mr. Mikko Kivikoski told about the country’s progress in the field of “green” economy and low-carbon development and expressed readiness to develop cooperation with Kazakhstan in the implementation of projects and technology transfer.
With presentations and recommendations on the transition of Astana city to low-carbon development, sustainable urban development issues within the SDG, Finland’s experience in cleaning greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, innovative decarbonization of cities, Germany’s experience in improving energy efficiency in industry and transport, creatin the “Smart City” and decarbonization by recycling waste into energy using the example of Vienna, using of smart technologies to improve the energy efficiency of buildings were presented by: Director of the Representative Office of the Asian Development Bank in Kazakhstan Mr. Giovanni Capannelli, Austrian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mr. Gerhard Sailler, Director of the SREC “Green Academy”, Member of the Council on “green economy” under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Economics, Professor Bakhyt Yessekina, Chief Executive Director of “Kaukointernational Central Asia” Ltd. (Finland) Vladimir Olechshenko, General Director of “Delta Engineering” LLP, representative of the Finnish company PolarSol Mr. Yerlan Kuanyshev, Managing Director of ECP Group Oy (Finland) Mr. Tapani Stipa, Director of the Representative Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kazakhstan, Mr. Thomas Helm, IFCA Managing Director Mr. Aydar Kazybayev, Director of Development Department, Director for Research and Development Department of “Termotechnika” (Russian Federation) Mr. Valentin Kim.
The moderators of the round table were the Director of SREC “Green Academy”, member of the Council on “green economy” under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Economics, Professor Bakhyt Yessekina and Head of the Department of natural resources and regulation of nature management of the Akimat of Astana city Mr. Musa Tanabayev.
The discussion was attended by deputies of the city maslikhat, representatives of state bodies, international organizations and NGOs, scientists and experts.
On the results of the roundtable there were given the recommendations on creation of a Working Group from the number of international and national experts to develop the Strategy for transition of Astana city to low-carbon development.
During the event there was signed the trilateral Memorandum of cooperation between the Akimat of Astana city, SREC “Green Academy” and the company “Kaukointernational Central Asia” (Finland) on capacity development in the field of “green” economy and low-carbon development, development and implementation of programs and projects in the field of environmental protection and ecological safety of Astana city.
