According to the estimates of many scientists, experts and international organizations, further increase in the average temperature of Earth's climate system (often used the term “global warming”) by a half degrees Celsius could lead to very serious changes in the economic structure and living conditions of many tens of millions of people on the planet. For more than three decades the issue of global climate change has been on the agenda of world powers and major international organizations. Our country does not remain aloof from these activities.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was ratified by the Presidential Decree “On ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change” dated May 4, 1995 no. 2260. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 12, 1999 “On the signing of the Republic of Kazakhstan the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” and by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 26, 2009 was ratified the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change”. Thus, Kazakhstan has joined the most famous environmental agreements in the world.
At the initiative of the Head of State, for the effective environmental partnership between the countries of Europe, Asia and the Pacific was established the Partnership Program “Green Bridge” (PPGB). It should be noted that at the 2012 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro the Republic of Kazakhstan presented its projects: the Partnership Program “Green Bridge” and the global energy strategy. The documents were highly appreciated by the participants of the global forum, and the initiative of the President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan – the Partnership Program "Green Bridge" was supported by the international community as an inter-regional initiatives on sustainable development, what was noted in the Final Declaration of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development “Rio + 20” “The future we want”. November 13, 2015 Astana hosted the largest environmental forum - International conference “Green Bridge - Platform for Partnerships of Advanced Practices and Innovation”, organized by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Today, there are 14 participating countries and 6 non-governmental organizations of the Charter of the Partnership Program “Green Bridge”. They are Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Germany, Mongolia, Belarus, Montenegro, the Republic of Latvia, Albania, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Sweden, the Association “Finnish Water Forum”, the Association “International Secretariat G-Global”, “Coalition for the “green” economy and development of the G-GLOBAL”, the Public Association “KazAlyans”, “Zhanatan”, the Public Fund “GREEN BRIDGE & G-GLOBAL”.
Two weeks ago, six non-governmental organizations joined “Green Bridge”: “German-Kazakh Society” (Germany), PF “Unison” (Kyrgyz Republic), Scientific-production
association “Green PIK” LLP (Russian Federation), “Foundation to Support Civil Initiatives” (Tajikistan), “Green PIK Turkey” (TURKEY), MTU Rohilinesild (Estonia). Thus, the number of participants of the Initiative Partnership Program “Green Bridge” is growing from year to year.
November 30 was launched and will run until December 11 in Paris the World Environment Summit - 21th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Paris Forum can become a turning point in the history of international environmental cooperation and collaboration in the field of environmental protection, because it is assumed that these days the parties will sign a new international climate agreement that will lay the provisions for the implementation of contributions and obligations of the member-states to prevent and to adapt to the climate change in the long term, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, taking into account national circumstances and capabilities.
In the light of the need for careful preparation of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Paris Summit, within the November Forum in Astana were discussed such questions, as “Kazakhstan's obligations to the Paris meeting of the parties”, “Goals, objectives and expected results of the Paris meeting of the Parties to the UNFCCC - WWF / UNEP”.
Following these discussions, the Ministry of Energy, as the authorized state body of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Environmental Protection, has prepared a number of proposals to the Paris summit. The delegation of our country takes an active part in the activities UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and we hope that Kazakhstan’s idea will get the international support.
It is planned that the new climate agreement must include a global goal of the member-states in maintaining the temperature rise below 2 ° C compared to the preindustrial period. To achieve this figure, all countries must submit the so-called INDC (intended nationally determined contribution), i.e. the obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It is predicted that the summit participants will make a concentrated decision. All developed countries will obligatory fulfill the contributions to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, while countries belonging to the least developed countries will carry out the reduction of emissions on a voluntary basis.
On its part, the Republic of Kazakhstan will present INDC, which defined its contribution to the limitation and reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions for the period of until 2030 by 15% (absolute target) and by 25% (conditional target in the case of receiving international support) in relation to the base year of 1990.
Among the priorities that our country will announce at the forum – the provision of financial support to countries that have chosen the path of development of low-carbon and “green” strategy.
The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan supervises and regulates the production of hazardous waste and emissions, uses a variety of mechanisms to support the implementation in production processes of modern technology of cleaning and safe disposal of hazardous substances, oversees the development of renewable energy sources, as well as implements measures within the framework of the Council on the transition to “green” economy.
By the Presidential Decree dated May 30, 2013 was approved the Council on the transition to “green” economy, also was approved the Action Plan for the implementation of this concept.
As stated in the document: “The adopted Strategy “Kazakhstan-2050”: a new policy established state" (hereinafter – Strategy-2050) sets clear direction for the construction of a stable and efficient economic model based on the country's transition to a "green" way of development.
Currently, within the implementation of the concept were approved the state Program on water resources management and the Action Plan for its implementation, “Program for modernization of solid waste management in 2014-2050”, the Council on the transition to “green” economy under the President of RK.
Thus, as a responsible member of the international community, the Republic of Kazakhstan conducts systematic state policy in the field of environmental protection, “green” economy and on the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and pollutants, is actively involved in the activities of international environmental organizations. And it should be noted that we have high hopes that the signing of the 21th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will open a new era of inter-state relations, where actions on the protection of the environment will become universal for all member-states of the UN Convention on Climate Change. In conclusion, I would like to remind that in 2017 the Republic of Kazakhstan will host the World Exhibition “Expo”, which will be held under the motto “Future Energy”, and as the President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in his speech at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in September this year: “In support of the UN initiative “Sustainable Energy for All”, in 2017 Astana will host the World exhibition “EXPO” on the theme “Future Energy”. We invite all states to participate in the preparation and holding of the exhibition”.
Author: Vladimir Shkolnik, the Minister of Energy of RK http://www.kazpravda.kz/articles/view/podhod-sistemnii-gosudarstvennii1/