The international conference themed Ways to achieve the Paris Agreement and Kazakhstan’s carbon neutrality kicked off in the Kazakh capital.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Minister Serikkali Brekeshev and the UN high-ranking officials, international experts, representatives of business community and civil society are attending the conference.
At the Climate Ambition Summit held on December 12, 2020 the Kazakh President declared that Kazakhstan would reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
The aim of the conference was to represent the country’s carbon neutrality vision, to show economic and social benefits of the carbon-neutral society, and necessary policy of decarbonisation and transformations in infrastructure and technologies, to debate the key role of mobilisation of funds for full-scale transition.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev warned of the global water scarsity by 2030. “According to the UN predictions, the world may face a 40 percent shortfall in water availability by 2030 due to global warming and anthropogenic impact,” the Head of State said. As the President said the water security of Kazakhstan depends largely on hydrological and ecological state of trans-border rivers.
The President noted that a number of international agreements on protection and use of international watercourses were adopted under the UN aegis. He expressed opinion that there is a need to coordinate efforts to execute international obligations through expended dialogue and cooperation. «To this end we rely on support of partners and international community,» the Head of State resumed.
Tokayev believes it is of paramount importance to keep in mind the consequences of global warming and climate change. While addressing the international conference, the Head of State emphasized that pace of warming in the Central Asian region raises concerns and calls for urgent actions, especially in terms of preserving water and food security.
According to the President, Kazakhstan is among the world’s top 10 wheat producers and exports up to 7 million tons of wheat per year. However, in his words, in case the negative scenario unfolds the yield of spring wheat will decrease by 30% by 2030.
It was noted that based on data provided by the UNDP in 2020 by 2030 wheat yield will amount to 63-87% of its current level in seven regions of Kazakhstan, namely the Akmola, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan regions.
The Head of State added that given the fact that Kazakhstan is the only wheat exporting country it will inevitably threaten the food security of the entire region. He went on to add that it is crucial to fight against the climate change jointly.
Tokayev touched upon the issue of the doctrine that will help Kazakhstan achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The President said Kazakhstan will reveal its doctrine for achieving carbon neutrality at the conference.
The doctrine, according to the Head of State, involves low-carbon transformation in domestic economy and industry. The Kazakh minister of ecology, geology and natural resources will give an in-depth insight into the doctrine later at the conference.
President Tokayev stressed that the final variant of the doctrine should be pragmatic, rational and take into account the needs of Kazakhstan’s economy.
Reported by Kazinform.
