BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 21
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
For the transformation of the Kazakhstani economy during decarbonization, systemic support measures are needed, as well as wide public participation, Chair of the Council of the ECOJER Association, Lazzat Ramazanova said, Trend reports referring to Kazinform international news agency.
The online conference "The Role of Civil Society in the Energy Transition: the Experience of Germany and Kazakhstan", organized by the German Energy Agency (Dena), was attended by members of the German Bundestag, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Germany, international experts, representatives of the civil sector of the two countries.
The head of ECOJER noted that Kazakhstan adheres to obligations to reduce harmful emissions and has become the first country in the post-Soviet space where the idea of a "green economy" is being implemented.
“Today it is the only and uncontested way to improve the quality of life of the population. At the same time, it is extremely important to enlist the support of civil society, to protect the interests of workers whose activities may be curtailed due to restrictions on the extraction and combustion of solid fuels. A purposeful state policy should be pursued in this direction by all interested state bodies,” Ramazanova emphasized.
It was noted that low-carbon development can already increase energy costs in the short term, which is associated with ambitious goals to reduce harmful emissions by 15 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.
“These goals, according to various estimates, will require large investments – from $400 to $700 billion. More than half of them will be required for the renewal of capacities in the energy sector. In addition, to achieve the set goals, it will be necessary to reduce the carbon budget by 40 million tons annually from 2026, as well as introduce a carbon tax. It is obvious that the transition to a green economy will require a change in the entire industrial policy,” Ramazanova said.
To effectively and painlessly achieve carbon neutrality goals by 2060, the Government of Kazakhstan will have to identify priority sectors of the economy and support them in decarbonization by developing a package of horizontal measures.
“These issues require discussion not only with business but also with the public. The population, as the main user of clean energy, should not stand aside. The constant involvement of NGOs and our society in environmental and economic processes is important. At the same time, constant interaction with colleagues from the EU countries is necessary, where the transition to a low-carbon economy is being successfully carried out,” the speaker concluded.
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