Kazakhstan Participates in OECD Meeting on Environmental Cooperation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Kazakhstan Participates in OECD Meeting on Environmental Cooperation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Paris, February 4–5, 2025 – Kazakhstan participated in the joint meeting of the Friends of Eurasia and the GREEN Action Task Force at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) dedicated to Integrating Climate Action with Economic Competitiveness in the Eastern Partner Region and Central Asia.

The Kazakh delegation was headed by Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Special Representative of the President on International Environmental Cooperation Zulfiya Suleimenova. It also included First Vice-minister of Trade and Integration Aizhan Bizhanova, Vice-minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mansur Oshurbayev, Permanent Delegate of Kazakhstan to International Organizations in Paris Askar Abdrakhmanov, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Construction, QazTrade, the Project Office for Central Asia on Climate Change and Green Energy, and others.

More than 100 participants of the event discussed the integration of measures to combat climate change and measures to increase the competitiveness of economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In her speech Suleimenova noted that, sharing the goals of the Paris Agreement, Kazakhstan attaches paramount importance to the issues of energy transition, the implementation of which requires close international cooperation and the active participation of all stakeholders. The country is currently developing a roadmap to reduce methane emissions, strengthen emissions monitoring, and create a platform to attract investment in low-carbon economy projects. This work includes the development and adoption of amendments to the Environmental Code, the carbon neutrality roadmap and updating of Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as ensuring the effectiveness of the national greenhouse gas emissions trading system.

In addition, Suleimenova said that in cooperation with international partners, including the OECD and the International Energy Agency, preparations are underway for the 2026 Regional Climate Summit of Central Asia, initiated by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mary Beth Goodman noted that currently, in the context of escalating of climate change challenges, it is necessary to accelerate measures to decarbonize industry and other sectors, diversify the economy to move away from fossil fuels, increase production efficiency based on the principles of sustainable development and others. In general, she noted the active collaboration of Eurasia countries with the OECD in the field of the green economy.

Participants discussed investment policy and financing tools for sustainable infrastructure development, supporting the competitiveness of green and sustainable SMEs, post-disaster recovery measures, climate-resilient and low-carbon agriculture, environmentally responsible approaches to mining, and other relevant issues.

Joint meeting of the OECD Friends of Eurasia Group and the GREEN Action Task Force allowed the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia to gain useful expert support from the OECD, exchange experiences between regions, develop new approaches to ensure an efficient energy transition, as well as hold bilateral meetings and informal discussions.

Following the event, participants agreed to continue regular dialogue and cooperation on issues of ensuring the competitiveness of the economy, developing measures to combat climate change, decarbonization of industry and other economic activities.

Created in 2008, the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme works with 13 countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia to support policies to enhance competitiveness, improve the business climate and support sustainable development.

The GREEN Action Task Force (GATF), hosted by the OECD since 1993, has long served as a unique platform for interested OECD countries to collaborate with the same countries on their transition to greener economies.