A national round table was held in Astana on the topic: “Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan”

On October 2, 2018 under the chairmanship of Vice-Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlybay S.N. a national round table on the topic "Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan" was held in Astana.

The round table was organized by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the RSE "Information and Analytical Center for Environmental Protection" with the support of the OSCE Program Office in Astana.

The seminar was attended by the deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karaken K.A., the head of the Office of OSCE programs in Astana, Ambassador Gyorgy Sabo, a judge of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan Shermukhametov B.B. state bodies, regional Aarhus Centers, non-governmental organizations, universities and the Public Council of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, national, international experts and environmental users.

The purpose of the round table is to discuss the implementation of the norms of the Aarhus Convention in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

During the meeting, two thematic sessions were held on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the introduction of changes and amendments to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the framework of the implementation of the Aarhus Convention.

The Concept of the New Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Development Plan of the Aarhus Movement in Kazakhstan for 2018-2020 were presented.

Information on the ratification of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) to the Aarhus Convention and the Amendment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

The issues of introducing amendments and additions to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the implementation of PRTRs and GMOs; implementation issues of the online PRTR reporting system; draft guidelines on methods for assessing emissions, as well as on strengthening the role of environmental assessment in Kazakhstan through the introduction of modern procedures for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment, public participation in decision-making, the publication of the National State of the Environment Report and the use of natural resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The report of the judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan Shermukhametov B. B. on certain issues of judicial practice was heard.

The round table served as a good platform for active interaction of state bodies with Aarhus centers and NGOs.

According to the results of the Round Table, the recommendations were made as part of the implementation of the Aarhus Convention.