On November 14, 2018, the final round table “Improving the environmental assessment system in Kazakhstan in accordance with the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment” will be held in the “Radisson-Astana” hotel in Astana on November 14, 2018.
Since 2017, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Ministry), with the support and cooperation of the UNECE, the European Union Office in Kazakhstan, the OSCE Program Office in Astana and the UNDP Office in Kazakhstan, in the framework of the joint project “Supporting the Transition of Kazakhstan to the Green Economy Model” measures to establish a national system for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and to improve the system of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and UNECE on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (Protocol on SEA). This work provides for the review and revision of the current national environmental legislation in accordance with the provisions of the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on SEA and the implementation of a pilot project on SEA regarding the Concept for the development of the fuel and energy sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030. The round table will be chaired by Vice Minister of Energy Nurlybay S.N.
It is expected that the round table will be participated by:
Mr. Victor Badaker, Sustainable Energy Officer, UNECE Secretariat.
Mr. Ambassador György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Program Office in Astana;
Mr. Johannes Stenbayak Madsen, Head of the Cooperation Department of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as members of the working group, experts from relevant departments of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, national experts and international experts on SEA and EIA, Mr. Jerzhi Jendroshka, on SEA and EIA and Ms. Elena Laevskaya, an international expert in the field of development of legislation on SEA and EIA), as well as leading experts from Georgia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
According to the program of the round table, in the first half of the day
Key international expert in the field of development of legislation on EIA and SEA, Mr. Jerzhy Jendroska, will inform about the provisions and requirements of the Espoo Convention and the experience of legislative reforms in the field of EIA in Central and Eastern Europe.
Ms. Marina Shimkus, Head of the Environmental Impact Assessment Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, will tell about the experience of the Republic of Ukraine in reforming the environmental assessment system.
Ms. Giga Gigashvilli, Head of the Municipal Environmental Protection Service of the Tbilisi City Hall, will present the experience of Georgia in reforming the national environmental assessment system.
Ms. Madina Ibrasheva - Project Manager for SEA and EIA in Kazakhstan will provide brief information on the project on improving SEA and EIA in Kazakhstan: goals, steps and lessons learned.
The proposed legislative reform in Kazakhstan and draft amendments to the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of EIA, namely the draft chapters of the Environmental Code "Environmental Impact Assessment" and "Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context" will also be reviewed and discussed;
Ms. Elena Laevskaya, an international expert in the development of legislation on SEA and EIA, will inform about the provisions of the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment. Legislative reform in the field of SEA in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
In the second half of the day the following issues will be reviewed and discussed.
The proposed legislative reform in Kazakhstan in the field of SEA and proposed projects: the chapter "Strategic Environmental Assessment" for the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the draft Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Strategic Environmental Assessment", as well as draft by-laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of strategic environmental assessment.
Results of the pilot project on SEA regarding the Concept for the development of the fuel and energy complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030 (goals, approaches and procedure), information on the “Concept for the development of the fuel and energy complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030” (content, planning process and next steps) , as well as the main findings and results of the pilot project on SEA (key issues and likely major impacts associated with the concept).
In conclusion, the UNECE international consultants will provide recommendations to the SEA.
It is expected that the outcome of the round table will be proposed further proposals and steps for follow-up on this issue.
Press Service of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan