RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN EXPERT MEETING on “CARBON NEUTRALITY: POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES FOR KAZAKHSTAN”

Participants of an e-expert meeting organized by Almaty University of Energy and Communication named after G. Daukeyev(AUES), SEC “GREENACADEMY”, “CarbonLab” (Moscow, Russia) – representatives from the Delegation of the European Union, the EBRD, OECD, IDDRI, UNDP, KPMG, the Higher School of Economics (Russia), IGTIPC, “Kazakhinvest”, JSC “ZhasylDamu”, Nazarbayev University, Institute of Economics of the Ministry of Education and Science, Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, Kazatkaz and other organizations. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, KazATC, Kazakh Energy Association and other organizations having discussed the reports submitted by international and national experts in the field of decarbonization of the economy adopted the following recommendations:

  1. The results of the UN “Climate Ambitions Summit” (12.12.2020) and the implementation of the “Green Deal” Strategy of the European Union indicate that at present, the decarbonization process determines the vector of the world economy and its competitiveness until 2050. The main directions of this process should be a new climate policy as international and national levels.
  2. The Republic of Kazakhstan, having taken voluntary commitments to reduce emissions by 15-25% by 2030 from the 1990 level, has started the process of developing a Low-Carbon Development Concept until 2050. At the same time, President K.Tokayev at the UN Summit on Climate Ambitions announced a new goal to make Kazakhstan carbon-neutral by 2060, which requires development of long-term systemic measures to decarbonizing the national economy, its basic sectors and alignment between NDC and LEDS.
  3. The following measures are proposed as comprehensive measures for the decarbonization of the national economy, taking into account the international experience of the OECD:

3.1. Improvement of the system of national statistics based on “green” indicators and “CO2 emissions based on production and demand” indicators;

3.2. Modernization of the system of planning and taxation taking into account strategic environmental assessment (SEA);

3.3. Development and implementation of digital technology, including blockchain for monitoring CO2 emissions;

3.4. Developing a concept of creating a Low Carbon Fund to accumulate and ensure transparency of payments for emissions;

3.5. Creation of an international network of experts on decarbonization of the economy to exchange experience, knowledge and consultations;

3.6. Develop a capacity building program for decision makers, businesses and NGOs.