The Head of State spoke at the World Climate Summit in Dubai

As part of his participation in the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, the Head of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev emphasized in his speech that today half of the world's population lives in regions that are highly dependent on climate change.

Small Island developing States, landlocked developing countries and least developed countries are the most at risk. Persistent geopolitical instability and energy insecurity also make it difficult to maintain focus on the climate agenda.

Kazakhstan supported the UN call to take concrete actions aimed at preserving the environment for future generations and became the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement and adopt the Carbon Neutrality Strategy until 2060.

The Environmental Code adopted in Kazakhstan will contribute to the comprehensive adaptation of green technologies in almost every sector of the national economy.

The Republic has enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, as well as for the production of “green” hydrogen. Kazakhstan will continue to work closely with its partners to unlock this potential. As a leading exporter of uranium, accounting for 43% of the world's supply, the state plays a critical role in generating carbon-free electricity on a global scale.

In the coming decades, critical minerals, including rare earths, will become essential as the world decarbonizes. In this regard, Kazakhstan is ready to become the main supplier of such transition minerals.

Kazakhstan actively supports private “green” initiatives, following the example of the Kazakhstan Plastic Association, which is working on projects to get rid of plastic waste, contributing to environmental protection.

Reducing Methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the rate of global warming, which is why Kazakhstan has decided to join the Global Methane Reduction Commitment.

Kazakhstan strives to solve the large-scale coal problem in the countries of its region through the implementation of the Partnership for a Just Energy Transition and calls on friends and partners to support in this matter.

Kazakhstan hopes the international community will expand its commitment to increase climate finance. However, financing is only the first obstacle. Even if humanity successfully limits global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by 2050, Central Asian countries will still face a temperature rise of up to 2.5 degrees. This will lead to water shortages, extreme heat, desertification and extreme hydrological events.

In this context, Kazakhstan calls on the international community to allocate more funds to support the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, once the fourth largest inland body of water in the world.

Kazakhstan will take over the chairmanship of the Fund next year and hopes to involve all partners in resolving this issue. In addition, Kazakhstan, together with France, is pleased to become co-chairs of the first thematic “One Water” Summit on the sidelines of the next session of the UN General Assembly. Based on the successful results of COP 28, participating states have been invited to the Astana International Forum in June 2024. The Forum can serve as a dialogue platform to continue focused cooperation on sensitive climate-related issues before COP 29. To build momentum for climate action in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has also decided to convene a Regional Climate Summit in Kazakhstan in 2026 under the auspices of the UN.

The climate emergency is a global crisis that requires a global response, and only collective action and cooperation will solve the climate crisis.

Leaders of more than 40 states, heads of international and regional organizations also spoke at the summit.