On the Concept of transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy"

Home / Decree / On the Concept of transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy"

Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated May 30, 2013 No. 577.

In order to ensure the transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy"

I DECREE:

1. To approve the Concept for the transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy" (hereinafter referred to as the Concept).

2. To the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

1) approve the Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept;

2) take other measures resulting from this Decree.

3. The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, state bodies directly subordinate and accountable to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, akims of regions, cities of republican significance and the capital:

1) be guided in their activities by the Concept and take the necessary measures to implement it;

2) ensure that the accepted documents of the state planning system are consistent with the Concept.

The footnote. Paragraph 3 as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09/10/2019 No. 151.

4. Control over the implementation of this Decree is entrusted to the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

5. This Decree shall enter into force from the date of signing.

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

N. NAZARBAYEV

Approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on May 30, 2013 No. 577

Unofficial text

The concept of transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy"

Content

The footnote. Contents as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

I. Vision for the transition to a "green economy"

1. Analysis of the current situation

2. Justification of the need to adopt the Concept

3. Goals and objectives

II. Basic principles and general approaches for the transition to a "green economy"

1. Basic principles for the transition to a "green economy"

2. Common approaches to the transition to a "green economy"

2.1. Social development

2.2. Regional development

2.3. The need for investments

3. Common approaches to the transition to a "green economy" by sector

3.1. Sustainable use of water resources

3.2. Development of sustainable and high-productivity agriculture

3.3. Energy saving and energy efficiency improvement

3.4. Development of the electric power industry

3.5. Waste management system

3.6. Reduction of air pollution

3.7. Conservation and effective ecosystem management

3.8. A fair transition to a "green economy": burden sharing and protection of socially vulnerable segments of the population

4. Formation of an environmental education system and improvement of the environmental culture of the population and business, staffing for the transition to a "green economy

5. Creation of the Council for the Transition to a "green economy"

6. Stages of the implementation of the Concept for the transition to a "green economy"

III. The list of normative legal and other acts through which the Concept is supposed to be implemented

I. Vision for the transition to a "green economy

The footnote. The introductory part of section 1 is in the wording of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The Strategy "Kazakhstan 2050: a new political course for an established state" (hereinafter referred to as Strategy 2050) set clear guidelines for building a sustainable and effective market model of the economy during the country's transition to a "green" development path.

The Green Economy combines economic prosperity with a high level of quality of life for the population, sustainable and rational use of natural resources with the least harmful impact on the environment and human health, and also takes into account the interests of current and future generations and complies with the country's international environmental commitments, including the Rio Principles, the Agenda for XXI century, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the goals of the United Nations (hereinafter - the UN) on sustainable development, the Paris Agreement and the UN Convention on Biodiversity.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved by the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2015, outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (hereinafter referred to as SDGs) based on three key areas of development: economic, social and environmental. The transition to a "green economy" will allow Kazakhstan to move forward in achieving many of the goals set for the country, in particular, such as "eliminating hunger" (SDG 2), "good health and well-being" (SDG 3), "clean water and sanitation" (SDG 6), "affordable and clean energy" (SDG 7), "Responsible consumption and production" (SDG 12), "combating climate change" (SDG 13) and "preserving terrestrial ecosystems" (SDG 15).

The transition to a "green economy" is the main way to achieve the SDGs, fulfilling Kazakhstan's promised contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement, while ensuring economic and environmental sustainability, a just and prosperous society, and a clean and healthy environment.

The long-term vision of the transition to a "green economy" for Kazakhstan is relevant for all key sectors of economic development.

1. Sustainable use of water resources will be achieved through the wider introduction of water-saving technologies, deep treatment of anthropogenic wastewater, which will increase the number of reservoirs with good water quality and reduce its use in agriculture and industry.

2. For the sustainable development of agriculture, it is expected to increase the share of organic products, increase labor productivity, provide technical equipment and a modern seed gene pool, which is an important factor in increasing productivity and environmental friendliness.

3. Reducing the energy intensity of the gross domestic product (hereinafter referred to as GDP) will be achieved through energy conservation and energy efficiency improvements in industry, transport and construction.

4. The development of the electric power industry sector will be aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by increasing the share of renewable energy sources (hereinafter referred to as RES), as well as developing carbon capture and storage technologies (hereinafter referred to as CCS) with a gradual reduction in coal-fired power generation.

5. To reduce air pollution, it is planned to switch to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and introduce the best and economically affordable technologies in industry.

6. As part of the implementation of the main tasks of waste management, it is planned to introduce a system of separate garbage collection everywhere, increase the processing and recycling of industrial and municipal waste.

7. In order to preserve and effectively manage ecosystems, the share of protected natural areas important for biodiversity will be brought up to global requirements. The forest cover of the territories will constantly increase.

8. Improving the environmental culture and responsibility of business will be achieved through increasing the openness of environmental information and gradually increasing the participation of members of the public in natural resource management, as well as the widespread introduction of universal environmental education for the population.

9. The development of "green" financing will be aimed at involving financial institutions in the implementation of projects to improve and restore the environment through the introduction of "green" loans, "green" bonds and other financial instruments.

The planned transformations as part of the transition to a "green economy" will allow for an additional increase in the country's annual GDP by more than a quarter by 2050 compared to the baseline scenario of "business as usual" development and create new jobs. In general, the implementation of the Concept for the transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy" (hereinafter referred to as the Concept) will make it possible to form new or modernize existing industries and services, and ensure high standards of quality of life for the population everywhere.

It is expected that the adoption of measures to implement the Concept will revive the inflow of investments and increase their share in the country's GDP by 3-13%, depending on the phases of implementation of the Concept. There will also be an outflow of investments in new "green" technologies from investment plans and funds, which, under the baseline scenario, would be directed to support existing inefficient technologies. Compared to the "business as usual" scenario of the basic economic development, the implementation of the Concept measures will ensure an average annual investment volume of 7-8% higher in 2031-2040, equivalent to 235-270 billion US dollars in total over a 10-year period, and 14-15% higher in 2041-2050, equivalent to 650-700 billion US dollars in total, over the last decade.

1. Analysis of the current situation

The footnote. Subsection 1 - as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

Among the prerequisites for the transition to a "green economy" are the following:

1. Inefficient use of resources is observed in all major sectors. This leads to significant lost profits for the country's economy, which has several components: lost profits of enterprises, lost revenues to the country's budget, as well as social costs, which are expressed both in the form of lost private income, and high rates of respiratory diseases due to air pollution, reduced productivity. In addition, there are processes of degradation of wildlife, reduction of biodiversity and water resources.

The average energy consumption in the building sector is about 270 kWh/m2, which is more than twice as high as in Europe (100-120 kWh/m2), and also significantly higher than energy consumption in Russia (210 kWh/m2). Pilot projects supported by various international organizations in Kazakhstan have shown that energy savings of 30 to 40% can be achieved in the sector of multi-family residential buildings by implementing energy conservation measures at reasonable cost.

Among the prerequisites for the transition to a "green economy" are the following:

The economic losses incurred as a result of low agricultural productivity amount to 1.5-4 billion US dollars per year, and by 2030 they may become even greater, which may affect the competitiveness of this industry.

2. The imperfection of the tariff and pricing system for energy resources does not stimulate the technological improvement of industry. The lost profits of energy companies lead to a decrease in their investment opportunities and further depreciation of capital.

3. Currently, Kazakhstan is facing a serious deterioration in the state of natural resources and the environment in all the most important environmental indicators.

Almost a third of agricultural land is degraded or under serious threat, and more than 10 million hectares of potentially productive land are not in use.

Due to the intensification of industrial activity (in particular, mining), as well as tourist services, there is a tendency to reduce biological diversity and ecosystems, which can lead to irreversible disruption of the balance of the biosphere, a decrease in environmental quality and impoverishment of the genetic fund of wildlife.

Environmental pollution has a serious negative impact on human health. According to research, about 40,000 children under the age of 10 have neurological disorders worldwide as a result of excessive exposure to lead.

Kazakhstan ranks second in terms of total environmental pollution by organic substances among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There is a high level of air pollution in cities, with concentrations of particulate matter dozens of times higher than those approved by WHO. Substances that pollute the air cause an increase in morbidity and lead to direct and indirect damage to the national economy in the form of health care costs and reduced labor productivity, as well as negatively affect mortality rates. According to WHO estimates, air pollution in Kazakhstan in 2019 caused about 320,000 illnesses and more than 12,000 premature deaths.1 The economic damage caused by air pollution in residential buildings is estimated at about 250 million US dollars, and the costs of air pollution from private transport amounted to 1.66 billion US dollars, which in 2019-20202 totaled about 1% of the country's GDP.

The integrated waste management system, although showing positive development dynamics, still requires further attention and significant efforts to meet the characteristics of a "green economy" and sustainable development. On average, only 82% of municipal waste is collected in the regions. Historical toxic and radioactive industrial waste is also a serious problem.

Municipal waste management methods often do not meet environmental requirements. In 2021, 74% of the collected municipal waste (that is, 61% of all generated municipal waste), without processing and extracting valuable secondary resources, was exported to illegal landfills and landfills of solid household waste (hereinafter referred to as MSW), about 80% of which did not meet environmental requirements and sanitary standards. Also, ownerless waste storage or disposal facilities, which are a source of historical pollution, remain a serious problem.

4. Today, Kazakhstan's economy depends on the export of raw materials and is therefore heavily exposed to external sharp fluctuations in commodity prices. Kazakhstan will reach the maximum level of oil production and export between 2030 and 2040. In addition, there is high uncertainty about the price of hydrocarbons. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency and the United States Energy Information Agency, oil prices will be at $80 per barrel by 2035, and may range from $51 to $190 per barrel by 2050, depending on the scenario of the global oil market.

5. Kazakhstan has inherited significant territorial heterogeneity in economic indicators, living standards and environmental conditions. The development of new industries and "green clusters" will reduce inequality in the development of regions and exploit their potential in renewable energy, agriculture, water resources management, waste management and other sectors.

Global experience has shown that the "green economy" stimulates regional development, promotes social stability, and increases economic potential by creating new jobs. For example, in the Federative Republic of Brazil, agricultural land has been rehabilitated through improved soil care, agricultural harvesting, and supply chain management. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the city of Dortmund has transformed from the center of the coal industry into the center of a new "green" sector with the infrastructure of the "third industrial revolution."

_____________________________1 Data for 2019. Source: Monitoring of the UN Sustainable Development Goals "Causes of Diseases in the World", Institute of Health Indicators and Assessment.

2 Simulation results conducted to develop a Strategy for achieving carbon neutrality in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2060.

6. The international community expects Kazakhstan to successfully fulfill its international commitments to mitigate the effects of climate change, as well as progress towards achieving the SDGs.

2. Justification of the need to adopt the Concept

The footnote. Subsection 2 - as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The adoption of the Concept in order to transition to a "green course" of economic growth is more relevant than ever before.

First, Kazakhstan will undergo significant infrastructure renovation and development: by 2035, the installed capacity of power plants will increase by 70% of the total assets in 2021. This will happen due to the expansion of existing capacities or the construction of new power plants. Accordingly, with the stated goals of government policy in the building modernization sector, energy consumption is expected to decrease by 10% by 2029 compared to the level of 2021. There is a unique opportunity to create a new infrastructure that will use resources efficiently. Otherwise, the country will soon face the problem of uncompetitive infrastructure.

Secondly, the competitiveness of "green" technologies is growing rapidly and many alternative energy technologies in the near future will offer less expensive ways of generating electricity compared to traditional sources.

Finally, a high pace of transformation in the field of public policy has already been set. The Strategy 2050, the Strategy for achieving Carbon Neutrality of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2060, the Environmental Code and other strategic and programmatic documents set new and more ambitious goals, the achievement of which will require a significant change in the existing trajectory of the development of the economy of Kazakhstan, as a result of which by 2050 the country will be able to achieve sustainable management of water and land resources and in many ways the average performance indicators of the use of natural capital with the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (hereinafter - OECD) and other developed countries.

3. Goals and objectives

The footnote. Subsection 3 as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

This Concept lays the foundations for deep systemic transformations in order to transition to a "green economy" by improving the well-being and quality of life of the population of Kazakhstan and making the country one of the 30 most developed countries in the world while minimizing the burden on the environment and the degradation of natural resources.

Long-term sectoral indicators for the goals of the transition to a "green economy" by 2050 are presented in table 1.

Table 1. Goals and target indicators of the "green economy"

Download

Sector

Description of the goal

Current level

2030

2040

2050

Water resources

The proportion of reservoirs with good surface water quality

30% (2021)

35%

50%

70%

The area of irrigated lands where water-saving technologies are being implemented

279 thousand hectares (2022)

1,040 thousand hectares

1800 thousand hectares

2,300 thousand hectares

Treatment of anthropogenic wastewater

28.55% (2018)

45%

65%

100%

Agricultural industry

Wheat yield

12.8 c/ha (2022)

20 c/ha

23 kg/ha

25 kg/ha

Increasing labor productivity in agriculture

4,608.2 thousand tenge/person in 2022

3 times compared to 2020

3 times compared to 2030

3 times compared to 2040

The area of agricultural land certified for the production of organic products

114 thousand hectares in 2022

150 thousand hectares

200 thousand hectares

300 thousand hectares

Energy saving and energy efficiency improvement

Reducing the energy intensity of GDP

from the level of 2021

15%

25%

35%

Electric power industry

Share of renewable and alternative energy sources (of total electricity generation)

4.53% (2022)

15%

30%

50%

Abandonment of coal-fired power generation or the mandatory maintenance of such CCS technologies

*if such technologies are available

50%*

80%*

Reducing air pollution

The average annual concentration of suspended particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the atmospheric air in the settlements where observations are conducted (mg/m3)

0.04 mg/m3 (2021)

0,0251

0,0153

0,0103

Reducing the number of settlements with high levels of atmospheric air pollution

22(2022)

Reduction of regulatory emissions of solid pollutants into the atmospheric air coming from stationary sources of large TOP-50 enterprises

from the level of 2022

10%

25%

35%

Waste management

Provision of municipal waste collection and disposal services to the population (%)

82% (2022)

90%

100%

The share of municipal waste processing and disposal from the total amount generated

25.4% (2022)

40%

50%

60%

The share of processing and disposal of industrial waste from the total amount generated**-in relation to fifty category I facilities, the largest in terms of total emissions of pollutants into the environment as of January 1, 2021

40%**(2022)

50%**

55%**

60%**

The proportion of landfills meeting environmental requirements and sanitary standards

21% (2022)

50%

95%

100%

Conservation and effective ecosystem management

The share of protected natural areas important for biodiversity, % of the area of the territory of Kazakhstan

10.77% (2022)

11,5%

13,5%

17,5%

Formation of the ecological culture of the population and business

The share of "TOP 50" companies publishing reports on the rational use of resources (ESG)

5% (2023)

20%

50%

100%

The share of public representatives in the composition of basin councils for water resources management

2% (2022)

10%

20%

"Green" financing

The share of "green" loans in the banking sector portfolio

3.17% (2023)

7,5%

15,5%

20,5%

The share of "green" bonds in the structure of the official list of the stock exchange

2.27% (2023)

The main priorities for the transition to a "green economy" facing the country are:

1) improving the efficiency of resource use (water, land, biological, etc.) and their management;

2) modernization of existing and construction of new infrastructure;

3) improving the well-being of the population and the quality of the environment through cost-effective ways to mitigate environmental pressure;

4) improving national security, including water security.

II. Basic principles and general approaches for the transition to a "green economy"

1. Basic principles for the transition to a "green economy"

The footnote. Subsection 1 as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The transition to a "green economy" is based on the following basic principles:

1) Increasing resource productivity: Resource productivity (which is defined as GDP per unit of water, land, energy resources, unit of greenhouse gas emissions, etc.) should become a central economic indicator, as this parameter evaluates our country's ability to create value while minimizing environmental impact;

2) responsibility for the use of resources and the circular economy: it is necessary to increase the responsibility of government, business and the public for monitoring and controlling sustainable consumption of resources, the state of the environment and the implementation of the principles of the circular economy in all sectors of the economy;

3) modernization of the economy using the most efficient technologies: Kazakhstan will increase its GDP, industrial production and the number of infrastructure facilities several times in the next 20 years. These transformations open up the possibility of applying completely new solutions in the economy: these can be new technologies, integrated closed-loop production systems, or innovative approaches to electricity generation as part of the "third industrial revolution";

4) ensuring the investment attractiveness of measures for the efficient use of resources: it is necessary to ensure fair tariff and pricing in the resource markets in order to reduce subsidies to industries that consume them;

5) implementation of cost-effective measures in the first place: priority will be given to those initiatives that make it possible not only to improve the environmental situation, but also to obtain economic benefits.;

6) education and formation of an ecological culture in business and among the population: it is necessary to improve existing and develop new educational programs on the rational use of resources and environmental protection in the education and training system.

2. Common approaches for the transition to a "green economy"

2.1. Social development

The footnote. Subsection 2.1 - as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The social aspect of the transition to a "green economy" is expressed in the creation of new jobs through the development of "green" professions in three categories:

1) "green" professions, which are in increasing demand with the development of new industries (for example, installation and maintenance of renewable energy sources, installation and maintenance of efficient water supply and irrigation systems in agriculture, planting and maintenance of forests and "green" belts of cities, waste sorting and recycling);

2) "green" professions that require high qualifications and the gradual introduction of appropriate educational and professional development programs for specialists in compatible professions (industrial engineers due to the creation of new enterprises for the production of thermal insulation building materials, production and use of hydrogen);

3) new "green" and promising professions requiring knowledge that do not exist (or are very rare) on the market today: attracting workers in the field of science and education, research centers.

The labor market will consist of "green" and other jobs. "Green" jobs will be filled by specialists who will transfer from environmentally unfavorable ("brown") jobs, partly by new participants in the labor market (skilled youth) and specialists from other workplaces. However, currently there is a low interest of applicants in choosing "green" professions in the country, and therefore it is necessary to increase educational grants for "green" professions allocated from the state budget.

Significant investments in the electric power industry, building modernization, waste and water management, as well as wildlife conservation and afforestation will be the main clusters of green jobs creation in the next two decades.

In addition, experts from media and public organizations will be involved in the transition to a "green economy" to conduct information campaigns, especially among young people and schoolchildren.

2.2. Regional development

The footnote. Subsection 2.2 as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

Kazakhstan's economic development is centered around cities and major extractive industries, which diverts labor and material resources from agricultural regions. The concept will ensure uniform territorial development.

Firstly, the introduction of modern farming methods and the use of "green" technologies will significantly increase the productivity of the agricultural sector, on which the economy of a number of regions largely depends.

Secondly, energy supply to remote areas from renewable sources, while ensuring low electricity prices, will create new industries such as greenhouses and animal husbandry, and increase the competitiveness of the regions.

Thirdly, as the efficiency of conservation of water and land resources increases, activities such as fish farming and animal husbandry will receive new incentives for development in the regions.

2.3. The need for investments

The footnote. Subsection 2.3 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The total amount of additional investments required to implement the Concept from now until 2050 will amount to an average of about 15 billion US dollars annually. The largest annual volume of investments will be equivalent to 6.2% of GDP in the period from 2041 to 2045, and investments will amount to about 4.4% of GDP on average until 2050 (Figure 1). At the same time, the bulk of investments will be attracted from private investors.

The main funds from this amount will be used for the development of renewable energy sources, as well as the implementation of energy efficiency measures in transport, industry and construction. Measures for the development of agriculture and the sustainable use of water resources are less demanding for financing, although the latter need to attract mainly public funds for the reconstruction of canals and reservoirs. Sustainable waste management measures will require less investment than following the current development strategy, which is reflected in negative additional investments (Figure 2).

3. Common approaches to the transition to a "green economy" by sector

The concept includes a coordinated policy in all sectors related to the use of resources.

3.1. Sustainable use of water resources

The footnote. Subsection 3.1 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

In 2013, the Government set a goal to solve all problems with water resources by 2050. The concept of Kazakhstan's transition to a "green economy" reinforces this goal by laying the foundations for a coordinated policy on the use of water resources by all types of economic activities. Taking into account the SDGs announced by Kazakhstan, the Concept includes a set of measures and targets that point the way to increasing sustainability in this area. At the same time, the ecological component of water resources - the stability of ecosystems, the development of fish farming, ecotourism and the preservation of unique natural resources - should not be infringed in favor of industrial or agricultural development.

With increasing water scarcity, the costs associated with a potential shortage of water resources will increase. Economic losses in the form of wheat crop losses and a decrease in livestock production are projected to amount to about 2 billion US dollars by 2050.

The expected damage to the energy sector is to reduce the potential for generating electricity from hydroelectric power plants by 20% and thermoelectric energy by 4% due to reduced river flow and lack of water for cooling generators. Since almost all sectors of the economy depend on water, GDP may decrease by 6% by 2050 due to its shortage in the country's regions.

At the same time, the positive effect of the transition from a water-deficient economy to an economy that uses water resources efficiently, on the contrary, will make it possible to increase the country's GDP by 1.2%, or 2 billion US dollars per year. Direct benefits for agriculture are estimated at USD 365 million per year, and by 2030, 78,000 additional jobs will be created solely through the implementation of sustainable water management measures, including 46,000 in agriculture and 4.7 thousand in construction. However, the investment costs, if properly allocated, will not exceed half of the total economic benefit received.

Kazakhstan's water system is a living, unique and vulnerable system, which is exposed to anthropogenic and other external risks associated with climate change, much more than in most other countries of the world.

Firstly, drainless basins and high levels of evaporation from the surface of lakes lead to significant water consumption for their maintenance (38.6 billion m3 of the current average annual volume of surface water resources of 101 billion m3 is needed to stabilize lake ecosystems).

Secondly, there is dependence on transboundary rivers from China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, which account for about 50% of surface water inflows, which are rapidly declining due to the acceleration of economic and social development in neighboring countries. According to available data, only between 2010 and 2021, the inflow of waters through transboundary rivers decreased by almost 35 km3, and since 1990, the decrease in water inflow has already exceeded 50.8 km3, that is, due to anthropogenic influence on the side of neighboring countries, river inflow to Kazakhstan has decreased by 26%. According to forecasts, the inflow of transboundary rivers may decrease by 40% by 2030.

Thirdly, Kazakhstan's water resources are being affected by global warming, and a temporary increase in glacier melting will affect future volumes of water resources (rivers in the south of the country are most at risk).

As a result of the rapidly growing demand for water and the reduction of sustainable water supplies, by 2040 the country may face a significant deficit, which will amount to 50% of its water needs, unless drastic measures are taken and development follows the current trajectory. In the absence of the proactive actions proposed in the Concept, such a shortage of water can lead to:

reduction of environmental water supplies with subsequent degradation of lake and river ecosystems and fishing, especially on Lake Balkhash, in the Ili River delta, swamp systems of Central Kazakhstan, the Northern Aral Sea, and so on;

rationing of water consumption for economic purposes, especially in agriculture, as well as in the hydropower industry, industry, and possible interruptions to the water supply of settlements;

increased costs of water supply due to the need to commission new sources of water supply (recycling, desalination plants, main pipelines) and the transfer of water resources between basins.

Thus, the threat of water scarcity and inefficient management of water resources can become a major obstacle to sustainable economic growth and social development in Kazakhstan. In addition, low water prices, high subsidies, insufficient water intake controls, and poor infrastructure reduce the effectiveness and payback of implemented initiatives.

Measures and mechanisms to reduce water scarcity

1. Improving the efficiency of water use in irrigation:

1) reducing water losses during transportation (which will save 2 billion m3 annually) by repairing and rebuilding main irrigation and inter-farm canals, large water transportation infrastructure facilities, determining ownership rights and responsibilities for their maintenance; digitalization and automation of water utilities; reconstruction of reservoirs and hydraulic structures;

2) further implementation of modern irrigation methods and other modern water-saving technologies (will save 700 m3 of water per 1 hectare of irrigated area in 2030), which includes an increase in irrigated land using water-saving technologies (sprinkling, drip irrigation and others), arable farming areas up to 8 million hectares by 2040, areas of closed ground up to 1,700 hectares in 2030;

3) the transition to crops with higher added value and less water-intensive, for example, the gradual reduction of low-profitable and water-intensive crops - rice and cotton in the Balkhash-Alakol and Aral - Syrdarya basins (will save 3.5 billion m3 of water by 2030).

2. Increasing the efficiency of water use in industry by 25% by 2040 (will save about 2 billion m3 of water per year):

1) reduction of water consumption at existing enterprises due to the introduction of technologies:

improving the efficiency of water use (leading to savings of water per unit of natural product) and water conservation in the energy, mining and metallurgical industries (will reduce consumption by 20%);

reuse of wastewater and recycled water supply (annual increase of wastewater volume by 1% is expected until 2025, further stabilization and slow decrease is predicted until 2050);

2) Stricter standards for natural water intake and wastewater treatment for industrial enterprises.

3. Increasing the efficiency of water use in public utilities by 11% per capita by 2030 compared to the level of 2021, by 21% by 2040 and by 32% by 2050 (will save annual water consumption by about 0.1 billion m3 in 2030, 2.3 billion m3 in 2040 and by 4.16 billion m3 in 2050, taking into account population growth and water consumption under the "business as usual" scenario):

elimination of leaks in houses and utility networks;

water pressure monitoring in distribution networks;

implementation of water conservation standards for household appliances and plumbing.

By 2040, the entire population of Kazakhstan should have access to safe water supply, that is, the proportion of the population using high-quality water management services should grow from the current level of 90% to 100% over the next fifteen years.

4. Increasing the availability and reliability of water resources (the potential to provide additional water inflow in the amount of 4.5-5 billion m3).

The most acute problem is the division of transboundary rivers, so Kazakhstan should continue to work to reach agreements with neighboring countries, as well as monitor the implementation of agreements reached by all parties involved on all water bodies, and negotiate the renewal of outdated or expired agreements.

A set of measures that need to be implemented in order to ensure national security and eliminate future water shortages:

construction of reservoirs and reservoirs to contain water runoff during floods and compensate for variability throughout the year (annual water savings are calculated at a minimum of 1.2 billion m3). However, due to climate change, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of catastrophic floods and prevent them by preventive discharge of water from reservoirs. It is also important to resettle the population from flood-prone areas and prevent new construction on them.;

study of sustainable use of groundwater (exploration, mapping and development);

an integrated approach to the restoration of basin systems, including measures for reforestation and creation of new forest areas, restoration of deltas, and purification from silt sediments;

elaboration of measures to reduce water losses during transportation in all types of economic activities, including agriculture, industry, utilities and other productive activities;

an increase in the number of hydraulic posts, including on the borders of water distribution with neighboring countries.

There is also the potential to transfer significant amounts of water to densely populated and industrial areas. The uneven distribution of water resources across the territory of Kazakhstan creates a local surplus of water resources (for example, the Irtysh, Kigach in the Ural-Caspian basin), the construction of aqueducts and canals can provide territories with water scarcity. At the same time, the additional volume of transfer of inaccessible water resources will range from 10 to 14 billion m3.

To solve the problems faced by the agricultural sector, the Government of Kazakhstan has adopted the Agribusiness 2020 Program for the Development of the agro-industrial complex in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2013-2020 and the Concept for the Development of the Agro-industrial complex until 2030 in order to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. In addition, for the transition to sustainable agriculture, Kazakhstan will adhere to ten areas of "greening" agriculture, which will ensure the development of the sector and at the same time preserve and improve the environment.:

6) prevention of land degradation and restoration of degraded lands: the introduction of more efficient agricultural methods that minimize tillage, ensure the conservation of organic matter and moisture in the soil, prevent soil erosion by wind and water, for example, through the use of equipment providing zero tillage and crop rotation;

7) prevention of further overgrazing: conservation of pasture lands by increasing the availability of remote pastures and restoring pasture lands, strengthening controlled pasture turnover and ensuring soil moisture conservation, using a crop rotation system, which is a key element of agricultural practice aimed at sustainable resource management and increased productivity. Crop rotation systems help combat soil erosion, conserve moisture, improve soil structure, and control pests and diseases.;

8) development of the most competitive farming methods, for example, organic farming, cultivation of technical and low-energy crops;

9) maximize the attraction of investments, including foreign ones, using modern technologies and the best international agricultural practices, support for "green" financing, minimize administrative costs when investing in the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan;

10) government support for long-term agricultural financing instruments in the form of guarantees, subsidies or other economic incentive measures to implement the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture;

11) efficient use of water, drip irrigation, greenhouse use;

12) rational use of resources: transition to the use of agrochemicals and fuels that minimize harm to the environment, reduce/prevent pollution of soil, air and water;

13) waste minimization and reuse: the introduction of agricultural processing methods that maximize added value and minimize waste, including through the reuse of residual waste in production, such as compost, biogas, and so on.;

14) adaptation of the sector to expected climate changes, namely the transition to new "green" methods of animal husbandry and land use (arable, spot, restoration of steppe pasture ecosystems) and the transition to alternative zoned crops;

15) ensuring the integrity of the soil cover, preserving and increasing land fertility, defining the duties and responsibilities of land users, landowners and the state in the field of soil protection and creating conditions for the production of environmentally friendly products, suppressing the negative effects of using means to increase soil fertility, endangering the soil itself, human health, flora and fauna, in order to obtain high and sustainable yields from reclaimed lands, assistance in coordinating activities in the field of land reclamation.

3.3. Energy saving and energy efficiency improvement

The footnote. Subsection 3.3 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

Today, the energy intensity of Kazakhstan's economy, expressed by energy consumption per unit of GDP in producer prices, is 3.2 times higher than the average level of OECD countries and 2 times higher than the global average. In the last two decades, this gap has only grown. Taking into account the amendments to the statistical methodology, the energy intensity index of the Kazakh economy has not changed significantly since 2015.

Improving energy efficiency, which entails reducing the burning of fossil fuels, is fundamental to protecting human health, the environment and the climate.

The Concept proposes measures to improve energy efficiency, which are aimed at implementation in the target sectors of the economy and regions of Kazakhstan. Monitoring will be carried out in the fields of industry, energy, construction, agriculture and transport.

There are a number of arguments in favor of the need to implement measures to improve energy efficiency.

Firstly, carrying out such events is in many cases cost-effective, that is, the cost of energy saved exceeds the additional costs of their implementation. In fact, Kazakhstan, in addition to the level of 2021, can reduce energy demand in the main energy-consuming sectors by about 5% by 2030 and by about 38% by 2050.

Secondly, increasing energy efficiency provides an energy balance, which consists in reducing the demand for energy resources by existing entities and helps to free up energy resources for new facilities.

Thirdly, arguments for the protection of the environment and climate are weighty, since reducing the consumption of fuel and energy resources means reducing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere and carbon emissions. Improving energy efficiency and energy conservation will contribute to achieving climate-related goals under the SDGs and the Carbon Neutrality Strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2060.

There are a number of serious obstacles to improving energy efficiency: an inefficient system of tariffs and pricing for energy resources, which does not ensure the profitability of energy efficiency measures, insufficient instrumentation, which leads to losses of energy resources, limited access to financing, and insufficient awareness of energy conservation issues. Kazakhstan needs to overcome these obstacles to improving energy efficiency.

In 2021, energy demand in Kazakhstan amounted to 68.7 million tons of oil equivalent (hereinafter referred to as tons of oil equivalent), of which 43.3 million tons of oil equivalent accounted for final consumption. In addition to the electric power industry, which is also responsible for heat supply in the framework of heat production at thermal power plants (hereinafter referred to as CHP), state and commercial enterprises mainly consume energy. buildings, apartment buildings, industry and transport. They are responsible for 80% of energy consumption, and together with energy - for 99% of energy consumption of the economy of Kazakhstan.

Comparing the technologies currently used in Kazakhstan's economic sectors with the best available technologies, as well as studying the experience of other countries, show that energy efficiency in Kazakhstan lags far behind in most key indicators.:

about 70% of buildings have thermal characteristics that do not meet modern requirements (especially for buildings built in the period 1950-1980); only through poorly insulated exterior cladding buildings lose up to 30% or more of the thermal energy consumed for heating;

heating of buildings is carried out mainly on outdated equipment with a very low efficiency; the efficiency of existing boilers does not exceed 65-70%, while upgrading existing boilers and using new boilers will increase efficiency to 85-90%.

In addition, according to various estimates, losses during the transfer of thermal energy through heating networks reach 25-40%, while international experience indicates the possibility of increasing this figure to 10%;

Road infrastructure and climatic conditions do not create incentives and conditions for wider use of public transport, electric vehicles, cycling and hiking.

Approaches to the implementation of energy saving and energy efficiency measures in the housing and communal services sector

1. Setting tariffs and financial support.

To increase the energy efficiency of the building stock, one or a combination of the options described below can be used.:

review utility tariffs to ensure self-sufficiency of energy supply companies;

to ensure the installation of automatic heat control systems in public and commercial buildings, as well as to inform and encourage the installation of these systems in private residential buildings;

to develop and provide targeted financial assistance schemes from local budgets and other sources of financing to households investing in energy-efficient modernization of their residential premises;

by regulating construction standards, increase the share of newly constructed buildings with a high energy efficiency class of buildings and structures from the current 16% of the total number of buildings built (2021) to 50% by 2030 and to 100% by 2040;

to stimulate thermal modernization programs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings, especially residential ones.

2. Modernization of engineering networks by installing resource accounting systems, upgrading and laying modern pipes and insulation materials (this will reduce energy transportation losses by at least 10%).

3. Stimulating the development of production of thermal insulation materials, windows and pipes with factory thermal insulation and other energy-efficient equipment and materials.

4. The gradual achievement of full coverage of the existing and future stock of buildings by marking energy efficiency classes.

5. Monitoring compliance with energy efficiency requirements in the design, construction and commissioning of new and newly commissioned facilities that consume energy resources.

6. Implementation of measures to raise public awareness of energy conservation issues through information campaigns for the public and organizations.

7. Launch and support an open platform that will serve as a database of sources of financing, projects and programs (including regional ones) and various other opportunities for people interested in improving the energy efficiency of their own private buildings, inviting international foundations and donors, construction and modernization companies, experts to participate and exchange information.

The buildings should achieve the following rates of reduction in energy consumption compared to 2021:

Download

2029

2040

2050

Energy consumption per room area

10%

25%

40%

Energy consumption per capita

12%

20%

Approaches to the implementation of energy saving and energy efficiency measures in industry

1. Ensuring the quality of energy audits conducted by industrial companies.

2. Establishment of energy efficiency requirements for household and office energy-consuming devices.

3. Implementation of energy management elements at business facilities.

4. Revision of production cycles in order to consume energy resources.

The main technical measures for energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement in industry are:

assistance in the technical modernization of industry to reduce energy consumption per unit of production;

promotion and promotion of innovative energy efficiency technologies;

creation of financial conditions for modernization of enterprises; provision of personnel in the field of energy saving;

the interaction of science and industry to modernize equipment and create lean manufacturing.

The following rates of reduction of energy intensity of production should be achieved in the industrial sector:

Download

Total in industry

2030

2040

2050

11%

25%

40%

Approaches to the implementation of energy saving and energy efficiency measures in the transport sector

1. Ensuring the development of infrastructure for clean fuel vehicles and bicycles.

2. Improvement of the traffic flow management system (smart traffic control system).

3. Transportation management (transport infrastructure that allows efficient use of all types of transport, improving the availability and quality of group passenger transportation).

The main technical measures for energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement in the transport sector are:

development of energy efficient transport infrastructure;

improving the efficiency of railway transport;

improving the energy efficiency of local public transport by switching it to clean fuels (gas and electricity);

expansion of public transport networks, ensuring their convenience for people and the potential transition from individual means of transportation (cars) to public transport.

3.4. Development of the electric power industry

The footnote. Subsection 3.4 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The current state of the industry is characterized by significant wear and tear of generating and network equipment, the dominant position of coal-fired generation, a shortage of capacity and the lack of necessary reserves to cover peak load.

The development and electrification of the economy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 will lead to an average increase in electricity production by 2.4% per year by 2030 to 141 billion kWh, and then to a high increase in electricity production by an average of 5.8% per year by 2050 to 438 TWh. At the same time, the electrical consumption of GDP in this case will increase by 70% compared to the level of 2020. The share of electricity in final energy consumption will increase from the current 16% to 40% in 2050.

Figure 5. Electricity demand until 2050

The growing demand for electricity and decommissioning of old power plants due to wear and tear in Kazakhstan will require significant construction of new facilities.

Figure 6. Demand for new installed capacities

There are several main factors that significantly affect the development of Kazakhstan's energy sector.:

1) Curbing electricity consumption by taking measures to improve energy efficiency;

2) modernization of existing facilities;

3) the competitiveness of various electricity generation technologies in terms of cost at the present time, as well as the evolution of traditional and renewable technologies in the future;

4) the degree of Kazakhstan's interest in the implementation of projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

5) the availability of gas for electricity generation and its price.

Factors determining the characteristics of scenarios:

1) reduction of electricity consumption by taking measures to improve energy efficiency;

2) the growing demand for electricity due to the large-scale electrification of the economy and the production of "green" hydrogen (the scenarios of demand for electricity "Basic" and "Carbon neutrality by 2060" lead to a total demand for electricity in the range from 128 to 395 billion kW.h in 2050);

3) coal-fired power plants are removed from the grid at the end of their technical service life. There are two possible options for the development of electric generating capacities powered by fossil fuels: in the first case, new capacities can be additionally introduced that meet the best available technologies and meet environmental requirements, in the second case, new coal-fired capacities are not introduced, and capacities powered by any other types of fossil fuels are introduced and equipped at the same time. ear systems.

The development of the energy sector is possible under two scenarios, which are designated as "Baseline" and "Carbon neutrality by 2060" (Fig. 5-10).

The basic scenario is gasification of the Akmola and Karaganda regions, an increase in the share of renewable energy sources and alternative sources in electricity production to 50% in 2050. Obviously, with such a development of renewable energy and alternative electricity generation, it will be impossible to achieve Kazakhstan's stated goals of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, since between 2050 and 2060 it will be necessary to reduce emissions from 50% of electricity generation capacity to zero, which at the beginning of the period will be powered by fossil fuels. This will become too burdensome a task for the electricity generation sector and the economy of Kazakhstan as a whole.

The "Carbon neutrality to 2060" scenario involves reducing energy intensity by 60% by 2050 (from 2020 levels), gasification of the northern and eastern regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, phasing out coal-fired generation, and increasing the share of renewable energy sources and alternative sources in electricity production to 82% in 2050.

Fig. 7. Scenarios for the development of the electric power industry

Figure 8. Total installed capacity according to scenarios

Fig. 9. Share of electricity production by scenarios

An analysis of the main modeling results showed that, despite the differences, most of the main indicators are comparable up to 2030, while in the long term, the scenario of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 is characterized by significantly higher ambitions for decarbonization.

First, taking into account all the costs of the energy system (including appropriate carbon pricing), it is expected that the average cost of electricity production will increase by more than 2 times by 2030 compared to 2020 (in real terms), reaching 9-10 US cents/kWh in 2030 and stabilizing at this level after peaking in 2035 at 11 US cents/kWh.

Secondly, total investments, including measures to improve energy efficiency, electrification in all sectors of the economy, modernization, construction of new facilities and infrastructure from renewable and traditional sources, will amount to 187-203 billion US dollars by 2030, depending on the scenario, and by 2050 total investments in energy across all sectors of the economy Including related CCS technologies, the carbon neutrality scenario will amount to about 1026 billion US dollars (+47% compared to 700 billion US dollars estimated for the baseline scenario). The transition to large-scale electrification of economic sectors will lead to an almost threefold increase in electricity demand compared to the baseline scenario and, consequently, to an increase in investments in electricity production, which will amount to 233 billion US dollars (Fig. 11).

Thirdly, in the carbon neutrality scenario, coal-fired power generation capacities will remain at about 14 GWh until 2030. In the baseline scenario, the volume of electricity generated by coal-fired power plants and, consequently, the volume of annual coal consumption by the energy sector will increase by almost 50% by 2030 compared to 2020 due to the construction of new coal-fired facilities.

Fourth, the use of gas for electricity generation will remain relatively stable until 2030, and subsequently, compared with current consumption volumes, it will grow significantly and reach 13-14 billion m3 in 2050, compared with about 7 billion m3 in 2020. Currently, gasification of energy capacities and the population of the Karaganda and Akmola regions is carried out at the expense of gas produced in the Kyzylorda region. Gas connection in these areas is affordable for the population and is significantly cheaper than using coal. In the future, an agreement on the supply of gas from the Russian Federation for the gasification of the northern and eastern regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan is possible.

Fifth, despite the multiple increases in electricity production, depending on the scenario, the volume of CO2 equivalent emissions from the energy sector will decrease from today's 87 million tons per year to 50 million tons per year by 2050 according to the baseline scenario, mainly due to the development of renewable energy sources and an increase in the share of gas in the structure of electricity production, and in By 2050, it will reach almost zero under the carbon neutrality scenario due to the high proportion of renewable energy sources and the use of CCS systems.

The main technical measures are:

1) for existing plants: based on an audit of the technical condition and energy audit of all existing power plants, approval of the modernization schedule, taking into account the remaining service life of generating assets;

2) construction of new thermal power plants in accordance with the world's best technologies in terms of fuel efficiency and environmental parameters;

3) equipping all new thermal power plants with CCS systems from 2035, and by 2050 all operating thermal power plants (taking into account the availability of CCS technology, as well as the technical, technological and economic feasibility of such equipment);

4) gradual replacement of existing old coal-fired capacities with renewable energy or gas, if it is available in terms of volume and price;

5) the development of renewable energy through the construction of wind and solar power plants, power plants using biomass, and from 2030 also hydrogen power plants;

6) investments in the creation of gas and hydrogen infrastructure in the northern, eastern and southern regions of the country, for which it is necessary to make the following decisions:

achieving a 30% share of gas capacity in the energy mix by 2030 to stimulate investment in gas-fired power plants and, in general, in the necessary auxiliary gas infrastructure.;

coordination of the plan for the construction of the necessary infrastructure to ensure the supply of gas and hydrogen to new power plants in case of economic efficiency and environmental attractiveness. When deciding on the construction of the necessary infrastructure, the Government's priority will be to ensure the environmental and social attractiveness of projects, even in the case of low economic efficiency.;

7) conversion of existing coal-fired thermal power plants to gas, primarily in large cities (Almaty, Astana, Karaganda), as well as the construction of new gas-fired plants by 2030 to improve the environmental situation in these cities.

The developed approach and the implementation of appropriate measures will make it possible to achieve progress in improving the target indicator of SDG 7.:

The intensity of emissions in the production of electricity and heat, which is measured as the ratio of the total CO2 equivalent emissions from fuel combustion to the total amount of energy generated.

Fig.10. Emission intensity

3.5. Waste management system

The footnote. Subsection 3.5 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The current waste management situation in Kazakhstan is characterized by a number of problems.

1. The legacy of historical industrial waste. Over the previous decades, significant amounts of waste from heavy industry, the agro-industrial complex and mining have been accumulated. At the same time, a significant part of such waste is toxic, and some of it is radioactive.

Figure 11. Historical industrial waste

Note The source of information is the collection "Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of Kazakhstan" for 2007-2011 (Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Statistics. Astana 2012)

2. The increase in the volume of new industrial waste generation. Due to the development of mining, processing and heavy industry, Kazakhstan produces significant amounts of industrial waste, which must be managed in accordance with the best international practices.

Fig. 12. Volumes of industrial waste

Note: including waste from mining/ore mining, production, electricity, gas and steam production, construction, etc. source of information: Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Statistics

3. The growing volume of household waste generation.

The volume of household waste in urban areas in 2021 amounted to 222 kilograms per inhabitant. Along with the increase in welfare, the base scenario predicts an increase in the formation of solid waste: by 44% by 2030 and by 72% by 2050. In a carbon neutral scenario, waste reduction measures would limit this growth by about 30% by 2030 and by 25% by 2050.

Fig. 13. Forecast of an increase in the formation of solid waste

The problem of food waste and plastic waste management in Kazakhstan, as in most countries of the world, is quite acute and requires an immediate solution.

Waste from electronic and electrical equipment also accumulates in the MSW. The lack of a rational system for separate collection by type of waste and processing of such waste in Kazakhstan may lead to their accumulation in the amount of more than 2 million tons by 2030 and almost 9.5 million tons by 2050. This trend is very alarming, as it increases the risk of serious environmental and economic challenges due to the presence of dangerous components in electronic and electrical equipment.

Fig. 14. MSW structure

4. Non-compliance with the environmental and sanitary requirements of the public service system for the removal of solid waste. Outside of large cities, on average, only 18% of the population has access to solid waste disposal services. There are also significant regional differences in the coverage of the population.

Mixed MSW without processing and extraction of valuable secondary resources is exported to landfills and landfills, a significant part of which does not meet sanitary requirements and is often formed in the absence of proper control. The prohibitions established by the legislation on the disposal of certain types of waste at landfills do not work due to the lack of mandatory separate collection.

The complexity and high cost of receiving waste to landfills, as well as their remote location from populated areas, lead to the presence of unauthorized landfills.

5. Undeveloped infrastructure for waste collection, processing and disposal, which does not meet modern requirements due to the lack of economic incentives, as well as other motivating aspects. In addition, there is a lack of measures taken to stimulate the population and businesses in the waste disposal sector for recycling and composting or generating energy from municipal waste. Thus, the volume of processing was less than 5% in 2013, and in 2023 - 20% of the total volume of solid waste, which is significantly less than in developed countries.

Fig. 15. Methods of solid waste disposal

In fact, Kazakhstan needs to rebuild an integrated waste management system in the following areas:

1) updating the classification of wastes and chemicals in accordance with international approaches, in particular, conventions ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan (Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their by deletion);

2) full accounting of all accumulated and generated waste from their owners, improving the collection, processing and provision of statistical information to monitor the achievement of targets in the field of waste management;

3) completion of coverage of the entire population with municipal waste disposal services with their mandatory separate collection according to their value and danger;

4) inclusion of necessary waste management measures in the country's strategic documents (development of regional plans for industrial and municipal waste management, including the elimination of historical waste and natural landfills), improvement of legislation regarding stricter sanitary and environmental requirements and promotion of waste recycling;

5) accelerated transition to the waste management hierarchy stipulated by the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

Fig. 16. Hierarchy of waste prevention and management measures

6) reducing the number of landfills and their consolidation, sorting waste before burial for their subsequent processing and reuse, as well as extracting useful substances and materials, obtaining fuel through waste disposal and improving the sanitary condition of landfills. The priority of recycling and disposal of waste near the places of their formation;

7) universal circularity of all production processes;

8) ensuring compliance with environmental requirements and sanitary standards of all new and reclamation of existing landfills;

9) taking measures to prevent the formation of historical waste and unauthorized landfills;

10) further development of standardization and voluntary certification in the field of waste management;

11) widespread adoption of the best available technologies in the field of waste management;

12) support for the development of waste recycling infrastructure.

3.6. Reduction of air pollution

The footnote. Subsection 3.6 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The main types of air pollutants are solid particles, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Mercury, ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, and dioxins are also released into the air. The main volume of emissions of particulate matter (93-96%), sulfur oxides (100%) and nitrogen oxides (82%)3 is accounted for by three main sectors of Kazakhstan: the electric power industry operating on the combustion of fossil fuels (including electricity and heat generation by industrial enterprises for their own production purposes); manufacturing and mining (mining and processing mineral resources, oil and gas production); transportation (especially vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel).

The largest emissions of dust, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are generated by power plants in combination with district heating and stationary sources in housing and communal services, mainly burning coal: 35% of all emissions of suspended particles PM2.5 and 17% of all emissions of PM10, 37% of the total amount of sulfur oxides (SO2) and 32% of the total the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx).4 A significant part of the emissions is due to the use of low-quality coal and the lack of effective pollution control equipment at power plants and district heating plants.

Table 2. Emissions in Kazakhstan by main sectors in 2019, thousand metric tons

Download

NOX

SO2

RM 2.5

RM 10

Total suspended particles

Electricity generation and district heating

253

868

Stationary sources of housing and communal services

140

Industry

351

1283

113

322

1110

Other stationary sources of fuel combustion

Road transport

414

Other sources of emissions

159

Total for Kazakhstan

880

2722

193

428

1249

Air pollution is an extremely serious environmental problem in urban areas of Kazakhstan, especially in industrial areas, which have become centers of industrial enterprises and are located in industrial areas. Since a significant part of the urban population suffers from poor air quality, it is necessary to pay special attention to improving the situation in cities.

Although some improvements have been achieved in recent years, the emission standards in force in Kazakhstan are still significantly higher than the WHO benchmarks (Table 3).

Table 3. Maximum permissible concentration of pollutants according to the recommendations of WHO and Kazakhstan

Download

Polluting substance

Single MPC, mcg/m3

Average Daily MPC, mcg/m3

Average annual MAC, mcg/m3

Kazakhstan

WHO

Kazakhstan

WHO

Kazakhstan

WHO

Total suspended particle content

500

150

Suspended particles RM10

300

Suspended particles PM2.5

160

Sulfur dioxide SO2

500

Nitrogen dioxide NO2

200

To improve air quality in Kazakhstan, it is necessary to implement the following measures::

1) introduction of stricter standards for emissions of particulate matter, sulfur oxides, nitrogen and other harmful substances in accordance with WHO requirements;

2) gradual transition to the use of the best available technologies that meet the technical requirements regarding emissions of harmful substances and ensure the achievement of air quality standards established by WHO;

3) gradual abandonment of direct use of coal in the residential sector (switching to electricity, district heating or gas);

4) modernization of large boilers of coal-fired power plants with the installation of modern equipment;

5) installation of automated monitoring systems for environmental emissions by large plants, boiler houses and industrial enterprises;

6) conducting explanatory work with the public about the state of air quality, the harmful effects of burning garbage and solid fuels on human health, the benefits of using public transport and the negative impact of car exhaust fumes on public health;

7) gradual tightening of emission standards for all modes of transport.

________________________________ _3 The new WHO standards, adopted in 2021, set the permissible average annual concentration of PM-2.5 at 5 micrograms/m3.

4 Data for 2019. Source of information: The Center for Emission Inventories and Forecasts of the European Emission Monitoring and Assessment Program.

5 New WHO standards, adopted in 2021, set the permissible average annual concentration of PM-2.5 at 5 micrograms/m3.

3.7. Conservation and effective ecosystem management

The footnote. Subsection 3.7 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

Integrated management of natural ecosystems should be carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development in order to increase their importance and economic potential.

1. Forestry management. There are 28.78 million hectares of forest areas in Kazakhstan, of which about 13 million hectares are currently covered with trees.

The area of forested land has been declining over the years, and the long-term value of these assets has declined, especially as a result of illegal logging, forest fires, and land reassignment. Therefore, forest areas have largely lost such important properties as moisture retention, carbon dioxide retention and soil stabilization.

Carbon emissions from forest areas currently exceed carbon uptake by forests, turning them from a net carbon sink in 1990 to a net greenhouse gas emitter of 8.4 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2020.

It is necessary to implement projects aimed at effective conservation of forest resources, control of deforestation, restoration of lost forests and afforestation of new territories, the introduction of modern forest management methods and the development of appropriate skills among forest users.

The implementation of the Government's program of planting 2 billion trees by the end of 2027 (mainly saxaul, pine, maple, elm and birch) may add about 1.3 million hectares or 10% of new forests. Creating green belts around cities will improve air quality and provide wind protection. By 2030, private initiatives and government afforestation programs will have to add another 1.6 million hectares of forest. These measures, as well as the extension of sustainable management of degraded forests (by about 2 million hectares), will restore the ability of forests to absorb carbon to such a level that forest areas will again become a clean carbon sink.

2. Fisheries management. From 1990 to 2004, there was a decrease in fish catch from 80.9 thousand tons to 36.6 thousand tons.

Since 2006, the authorized body has begun work on the long-term consolidation of fisheries reservoirs and (or) sites for fisheries entities that have undertaken obligations to ensure the protection of fixed sites, carry out a set of reproductive measures and assess the state of the habitat and bioresources of fixed reservoirs and sites.

At the same time, the catch of fish resources and other aquatic animals over the past 5 years (2017-2022) amounted to 267.5 thousand tons with a limit of 331 thousand tons.

It should be noted that fishing is carried out within the limits of optimally allowable volumes for seizure, which allow sustainable use of fish resources without harming the natural population.

Along with the rational use of fish resources of natural reservoirs, there is a gradual reorientation from fishing to fish farming based on world experience.

The cultivation of fish and other aquatic animals is the most in-demand trend both in matters of ensuring food safety and removing anthropogenic stress from natural reservoirs as a result of their overexploitation.

Today, there is a potential to increase the volume of domestic production of fish and fish products from 6.9 to 270 thousand tons, which will increase exports to neighboring countries and world markets.

Over the past 5 years, the volume of fish grown has increased from 729.8 tons to 19.2 thousand tons. The industry employs about 12,000 people.

The development of fish farming (aquaculture) will certainly have a positive impact on the development of medium and small businesses engaged in the agro-industrial sector, will create additional jobs mainly in rural areas and, in general, will create a multiplier effect that will solve a number of regional problems.

3. Wildlife management. The wildlife of Kazakhstan is unique and represents an asset that attracts rural and urban communities, tourists and hunters.

A large number of users have appeared in the Republic, attracted by the opportunity to invest in new sectors of the economy for them: the development of sustainable hunting and sport fishing, the development of ecotourism, the organization of photo safaris, the reproduction of wild animals in aviary and semi-voluntary conditions, and others, which are essentially "green" investments.

Over the past two decades, wildlife conservation has focused heavily on the protection of saigas, whose numbers declined sharply at the beginning of the 21st century. The habitat area of saigas and rare ungulates is 4 million hectares, and their habitats in Kazakhstan are 93 million hectares and 34 million hectares, respectively, the total area to be protected is 123 million hectares.

According to the results of accounting and monitoring in 2013-2023, there was a gradual increase in the number of rare and endangered species of wild ungulates (the number of argali in 2023 was 20316 individuals, jeyran - 15411, kulan - 4493, tugai deer - 1147, bustards - beauties - 15337).

According to the accounting data for 2023, the pre-livestock number of saigas was 1.915 million individuals, and the post-livestock number was approximately 2.6 million individuals.

It should be noted that the International Union for Conservation of Nature has upgraded the saiga's status from the "Endangered" category to the "Near Threatened" category.

At the same time, in accordance with the provisions of international conventions and in close contact with international experts, it is necessary to develop comprehensive measures to restore optimal saiga habitat (conservation of migration routes and food supply, prevention of epizootics, exploration and restoration of natural and artificial reservoirs).

Also in Kazakhstan, according to national experts, there are cases of bird deaths on high-voltage power transmission lines, which requires amendments and additions to regulatory legal acts of Kazakhstan by analogy with developed countries.

The general protection of biodiversity in Kazakhstan is carried out through the activities and expansion of the area of specially protected natural areas (hereinafter - protected areas). Since 2013, the share of protected areas has increased from 8.7% to 10.7% of the country's area. However, according to international recommendations, the share of protected areas should be at least 17% of the total area of the country, which corresponds to SDG 15.1.2. In this regard, by 2050, the share of protected areas will be increased to 17.5%.

For the further development of protected areas, an economic assessment of the services of natural territories is very important, which is being piloted with the support of the United Nations Development Program.

In the future, the economic assessment of ecosystem services will allow:

1) determine in monetary terms the benefits derived from natural ecosystems;

2) estimate the share of natural capital in the country's GDP;

3) to determine and take into account the economic value of natural resources when maintaining the state cadastre of flora and fauna, protected areas and forests;

4) determine the basic line of financing of protected areas and objectively justify budget financing;

5) identify additional sources of financing for environmental protection measures;

6) evaluate the benefits of creating new and expanding existing protected areas;

7) improve the management practices of protected areas;

8) identify potential users of natural resources that pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystems, and involve businesses and local communities in environmental protection measures.

4. Ecological tourism. The pristine landscapes of Kazakhstan are considered one of the main tourist assets of the country. The natural potential of Kazakhstan provides great opportunities for the development of ecological tourism, as it has a wide variety, uniqueness, and attractiveness of landscapes that have not yet been affected by anthropogenic processes.

Protected areas, especially state-owned national nature parks, have the greatest potential for the development of ecological tourism. Their main task, along with the protection and restoration of ecosystems, is to regulate the use of the territory of the national park and its protected area for ecological, educational, scientific, tourist, and recreational purposes.

Master plans for the development of tourism infrastructure have been approved in all national parks and forest natural reserves. The land plots that can be provided on a competitive basis for long-term use to individuals and legal entities for the construction of tourist and recreational facilities have been identified.

There are 245 tourist routes and trails (175 routes and 70 trails) in protected areas, where improvement activities are carried out on an ongoing basis.

The work on the arrangement and reconstruction includes measures to establish observation decks, camping glades, tent camps for tourists and the placement of billboards, information stands, maps of tourist routes and trails, signs in three languages (Kazakh, Russian and English), as well as measures to renovate and install gazebos, benches, toilets. and trash cans.

In 2023, about 2.4 million people visited protected areas of Kazakhstan. Currently, Kazakhstan is actively developing communications and infrastructure (tourist housing, transport, and the service sector), but an indispensable condition for this work, especially in the short term, is the preservation of landscapes intended for ecotourism.

In order to further develop ecotourism, it is necessary to develop concepts for the development of ecotourism in each protected area with consideration of the issue of attracting investors, including on the terms of public-private partnership and long-term lease of protected area lands. It is also necessary to popularize the most notable places and facilities with the development of PO tours, consider the possibility of creating an ecotourist branding for a network of national parks, and constantly train and upgrade the skills of protected areas (training guides and guides) to serve and educate visitors.

In addition, it is possible to implement the following areas::

creation of new ecological trails and green routes, parking lots;

provision of Internet access and development of transport infrastructure with garbage collection points and bio toilets on eco routes;

development of various types of ecotourism - "zhailau tourism", "birdwatching", "ecological quest", cycling and water routes, horse riding, forest zoo, nature museum, honey and beekeeping museum, visiting centers;

development of virtual tours in Kazakh, Russian and English languages;

development of inclusive ecological trails for people with disabilities, people of retirement age, parents with newborn children, ecological clusters and tourist products based on them, including the opportunity for tourists to familiarize themselves with local folk traditions, culture and way of life of the local population, meetings with craftsmen, tasting of national dishes and drinks;

creation of eco-hotels built from natural materials, provided with natural products, using wastewater treatment technologies and reuse of water for irrigation and maintenance of territories, as well as alternative energy sources.

3.8. A fair transition to a "green economy": burden sharing and protection of socially vulnerable segments of the population

The footnote. Subsection 3 was supplemented by subsection 3.8 in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

A fair transition to a "green economy" involves distributing the burdens and benefits associated with economic transformation equally among all segments of the population and age categories. This assumes the following:

1) timely implementation of measures that meet the challenges and objectives of environmental and climate policies. A delay in solving the acute problems identified in this Concept will lead to an unfair shift of the burden of dealing with environmental problems to future generations of Kazakhstanis. This burden can be expressed both in material costs (investments in "green" technologies and ecosystem conservation should be evenly distributed over decades), and in the levels of labor productivity and public health, which directly depend on compliance with and improvement of environmental and sanitary standards for air, drinking water, and food. The Concept's measures are designed to mitigate the threat of unfair burden sharing between generations and create conditions for environmentally sustainable economic development.;

2) protection of socially vulnerable segments of the population. Tariffs for energy and housing and communal services (garbage collection, water supply, etc.), as well as prices for public transport, may have the greatest impact on vulnerable segments of the population.

Possible options for mitigating the impact of tariff revisions on socially vulnerable segments of the population:

coordination of ways and measures to achieve energy saving targets in residential areas while meeting the energy needs of all types of households, in particular low-income elderly people, as well as large families;

improvement of the classification system of households by type of living quarters and energy needs (whether they are equipped with resource accounting systems, whether they use individual gas heaters for heating water, whether they use electric stoves, and so on); installation/revision of energy consumption quotas at preferential tariffs;

making changes to the current social payment policy in order to avoid energy poverty; developing and implementing an energy subsidy scheme for vulnerable households, along with reviewing adjustments to existing tariffs;

3) protection of vulnerable small businesses from the negative impact of economic shocks associated with the transition to a "green economy". Transparent policies and clear business signals should play a key role in building a stable business environment and providing opportunities for preparation and flexible adaptation to the challenges associated with economic transformation.

4. Formation of an environmental education system and improvement of the environmental culture of the population and business, staffing for the transition to a "green economy

The footnote. Subsection 4 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

Ecological culture is understood as a system of knowledge, skills and value orientations that expresses and defines the nature of the relationship between man and nature, the measure and method of human involvement in the conservation and development of the natural environment.

A continuous integrated process of education, upbringing and personal development aimed at forming an active lifestyle for everyone and improving environmental culture in society as a whole, based on the principles of sustainable development, should become the main goal of environmental education.

For the successful implementation of the Concept, it is necessary to ensure the integration of environmental aspects into the system of formal and non-formal education and to provide measures in the following areas::

1) integration of environmental aspects into policy documents, strategies, programs and national quality standards.

It is necessary to reflect environmental aspects in the framework documents, action plans, strategies, programs and processes initiated in the field of education, both at the central and regional levels. It is necessary to consider the presence of environmental aspects in the educational sphere as an essential factor in improving the quality of education, reflecting them in national educational quality assessment systems.

The integration of environmental components into education should be carried out taking into account the increasing climate change, viewed through the prism of the SDGs, as well as the possible introduction of specialized and interdisciplinary educational programs.;

2) the consolidation of environmental components in curricula and textbooks.

Environmental components should be reflected in all curricula of the formal education system, including the upbringing and education of young children, primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education, and higher education.

In Kazakhstan's school education system, environmental components should become an integral part of teaching and learning methods in core subjects (mathematics, natural sciences, social studies, languages, and other subjects). It is necessary that the learning objectives, the methods used and the results assessment system are closely linked and complement each other. Learning objectives should be formulated on the basis of a progressive system, that is, based on the principle of gradual complexity depending on the stage of learning (multi-stage system);

3) integration of environmental components into teacher education.

In the programs of basic pedagogical training and advanced training of teachers, it is necessary to integrate environmental aspects not only of the formal education system, but also of various types and types of educational organizations.

Educational institutions at all levels, regardless of the form of education, need to position themselves as places to gain knowledge and experience in environmental education, and therefore build all their activities on the principles of environmental sustainability.

This involves rethinking and revising the curriculum, the rules of the educational institution, the organizational culture, the role of students, the principles of leadership and management, relations within the institution and the nature of research activities. The presence of a sustainable learning environment - an eco-school, eco-college or a "green" campus - will enable teachers and their students to apply the principles of sustainable development in their daily practice and will contribute to capacity-building, professional development and increasing the value of education.;

4) Training of a sufficient number of engineers on environmental protection and resource productivity.

The curriculum for all engineering students should pay significant attention to environmental protection and resource productivity issues. This practice is already being implemented in most OECD countries. Since Kazakhstan's economy consumes a significant amount of natural resources, such a decision is more important for the country than for other countries.

Today, there is a shortage of qualified engineers, and to fill this personnel gap, it is necessary to increase the number of places in the relevant faculties of educational institutions.;

5) Industrial training and retraining of existing engineers, government representatives and farmers in the context of the SDGs.

It is especially important to regulate additional environmental education for adults (including retraining and advanced training), which is carried out through a system of different types and types of educational organizations.

Therefore, an urgent issue is to increase the capacity of the public service to work with environmental information and education, which means:

environmental information and data management (creation of official information sources);

development and implementation of training and advanced training programs for civil service personnel for buildings A and B;

increasing the capacity of government officials in the field of policy-making and coordination of actions on sustainable development;

training of specialists in environmental specialties and sustainable development.

The next necessary condition is the formation of a new ecological culture among the general public.

In recent years, the relevance of providing information to civil society, government and public structures on sustainable development issues and the measures they should take has increased.:

1) provide for the organization of comprehensive media campaigns dedicated to the anniversaries of Russian and world Earth science (ecology, geology, geodesy, and others), and regular mass educational events;

2) systematically hold various kinds of festivals, photo exhibitions, popular science lectures, national educational events, in particular environmental dictation, summer environmental schools, environmental brainstorming for schoolchildren, students, postgraduates, young teachers, environmentalists and industrial engineers.

Thus, the ecological paradigm should permeate all spheres of production and public life with maximum media support at all levels.

In order to change environmental awareness, it is necessary to ensure the involvement and responsibility for this process of all departments working with children and responsible for shaping public opinion at the central and local levels. This will require the support of local executive authorities to finance relevant projects.

5. Creation of the Green Economy Transition Council

The footnote. Subsection 5 – as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

To coordinate and control the transition to a "green economy", Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated May 26, 2014 No. 823 established the Council for the Transition of Kazakhstan to a "green economy" under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This Council reviews the National Report on the Transition to a "green economy" every three years.

The creation of such a body is a mechanism for implementing large-scale transformations in the public sector. For example, this approach has been successfully used in Taiwan, the UK, Korea, and Bahrain.

6. Stages of implementation of the Concept of transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy"

The cycle of asset renewal in resource sectors of the economy takes a long time, and in countries where the economy is focused on the extraction of natural resources, the transition to a clean economy takes decades. Kazakhstan is no exception in this regard.

In this regard, the implementation of the Concept for the transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy" will be carried out in three stages.:

2013-2020 - during this period, the main priority of the state will be to optimize the use of resources and increase the efficiency of environmental protection activities, as well as the creation of a "green" infrastructure.;

2020-2030 - on the basis of the formed "green" infrastructure, the transformation of the national economy will begin, focused on the careful use of water, encouraging and stimulating the development and widespread introduction of renewable energy technologies, as well as the construction of facilities based on high energy efficiency standards.;

2030-2050 - the transition of the national economy to the principles of the so-called "third industrial revolution", requiring the use of natural resources provided they are renewable and sustainable.

III. The list of normative legal and other acts through which the Concept is supposed to be implemented

The footnote. Section III as amended by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 06/10/2024 No. 568.

The concept for the transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a "green economy" is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Strategy 2050, Strategy Kazakhstan 2030: Prosperity, Security and Improving the Well-being of All Kazakhstanis, the National Development Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2025 and the Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2060.

The issues of implementing the transition to a "green economy" will be regulated by the legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the transition to a "green economy".

The tools for implementing the specific objectives of the Concept by sector are the current program documents, taking into account changes and additions regarding the implementation of the main areas of the Concept, such as the Program for the development of the agro-industrial complex in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2013-2020 "Agribusiness 2020", the State Program for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010-2014, the State Program education development of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2011 - 2020 territorial development programs, strategic plans of government agencies, the Zhasyl Damu sectoral program for 2010-2014 and other sectoral programs that will be adjusted and which will give new emphasis on issues such as improving air quality, managing production and consumption waste, combating desertification, land degradation and increasing soil quality. fertility, development of fisheries, aquaculture and reproduction of fish resources.

______________________

[1] Solar power plants, wind power plants, hydroelectric power plants, nuclear power plants

[2] With the conversion of thermal power plants in the largest cities to gas, given the availability of affordable gas volumes and an affordable gas price

[3]calculated by added value (profit and earnings per m3 of crops in the lower third)

[4] Includes different types of electricity consumption

President

Republic of Kazakhstan

Constitution Law Code Standard Decree Order Decision Resolution Lawyer Almaty Lawyer Legal service Legal advice Civil Criminal Administrative cases Disputes Defense Arbitration Law Company Kazakhstan Law Firm Court Cases