Serikkali Brekeshev said in an interview with EURACTIV that Kazakhstan’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which means expanding the share of renewable energy to 83% and stopping coal heating after 2050.
Serikkali Brekeshev is the Deputy Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
He answered written questions from Georgi Gotev, senior editor of EURACTIV.
As Glasgow COP26 is underway, I would like to ask you about the goals and characteristics of the “green” policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In 2020, our head of state announced the Republic of Kazakhstan’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To achieve this goal, a long-term doctrine is being formulated, which describes the vision of Kazakhstan’s low-carbon economic development by 2060, determining the path to energy transition, attracting investment, and eliminating coal.
As part of our long-term goal, we plan to actively adopt low-carbon technologies such as carbon capture and storage from 2040, increase the share of renewable energy to 83% by 2060, and stop coal power generation after 2050. In addition, in agriculture In the field of land use, we plan to switch to 100% sustainable agriculture and produce completely organic products.
As part of our short- and medium-term goals, we are working hard to improve the carbon market, especially the introduction of emissions trading systems and carbon taxes. By 2030, we plan to increase the proportion of renewable energy from the originally planned 10% to 24%, and by 2030, reduce the proportion of coal power generation from the current 69% to 40%. By 2025, 2 billion trees will be planted, and by 2030, more than 20 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be absorbed. These measures will help gradually realize the goals of the Paris Agreement and contribute to Kazakhstan’s global response to climate change.
How would you describe the synergy between Kazakhstan and the EU in environmental protection policies?
We work closely with EU countries in the field of environmental protection, especially in the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and the integration of the two emission trading systems. Kazakhstan cooperates with the European Union within the framework of two European Commission projects-TAIEX and Twining. These projects provide Kazakhstan with technical and expert support to coordinate the two systems, establish an equal carbon price, and improve the quality of verification agencies.
What is Kazakhstan’s view on the EU’s green agreement?
The EU Green Agreement package includes a border carbon tax on imports of steel, iron, aluminum, fertilizer and electricity. The main goal of the mechanism is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the most carbon-intensive sectors of the economy. In response, Kazakhstan will introduce a systemic emission reduction policy at the EU level to regulate carbon prices.
The expected three-year transition period is part of the introduction of a border carbon tax, which aims to collect reported data on greenhouse gas emissions from exporters. We are currently working to improve the transparency and quality of emissions verification and verification, inventory and reporting within the framework of the established rules of the new environmental code and within the framework of international cooperation with IRENA, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other institutions.
What does Kazakhstan expect from the COP-26 meeting in Glasgow?
At COP-26, Aksar Mamin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, attended the meeting. Kazakhstan confirmed the goal of achieving carbon neutrality, reducing coal power generation by 30% by 2030, and announced the establishment of a regional climate center.
We plan to hold national and regional events in the Central Asia Pavilion. This will make it possible to participate more effectively in global climate negotiations and demonstrate to the international community that Central Asian countries are willing to contribute and express their views on necessary needs and further development plans.
We also plan to make a regional statement on behalf of the Central Asian countries. The regional statement will reflect our commitment to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, addressing the vulnerability of climate change and the need for cooperation to adapt to climate change.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]
