Kazakhstan is a regional leader in low emission development. It has committed to reduce national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 15% below 1992-levels by 2020, and 25% by 2050. Kazakhstan’s Green Economy Concept and Action Plan lays out sustainable development strategies and targets for water, agriculture, energy, air pollution and waste.
Through the EC-LEDS program, Kazakhstan and the United States are working to achieve long-term and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by implementing GHG reduction policies and measures at the project, corporate, and national levels through support to an economy-wide emissions trading system (ETS).
Environmental/Economic Data
Top Three GHG Emitting Sectors (2012)
1. Energy
2. Agriculture
3. Industry
Source: World Resources Institute
GDP Average Annual Growth Rate (%)
- 10-year (2006–2015): 5.4 % per year
- 5-year (2011-2015): 4.6% per year
Source: World Bank
GHG Emission Growth (%)
- 20-year (1993-2012): - 0.6 %
- 5-year (2008-2012): 1.0 %
Source: World Resources Institute
Forested Area (% of total land area)
2015: 1.2%
Source: World Bank
Renewable Energy Contribution to Electricity Generation (%)
2014: 8.3%
EC-LEDS Activities
Accomplishments and Progress
Establishing Public-Private Partnerships for Energy Efficiency and Energy Management. The EC-LEDS program is supporting the government of Kazakhstan to develop public private partnerships to support energy efficiency and energy management activities—one of Kazakhstan’s national “100 Concrete Steps” to implement economic transformation. The EC-LEDS program is helping to develop memoranda of understanding with administrators of public buildings in three oblasts (Karaganda, Pavlodar and EKO).
Strengthening Environmental Laws and Regulations. EC-LEDS program experts and Kazakhstan climate and energy leaders are working together to craft amendments to the national Ecological Code and supplemental regulations to guide the establishment of Kazakhstan’s ETS. In 2016, the EC-LEDS program helped Kazakhstan prepare over 100 amendments to the Ecological Code. These amendments will help ensure that Kazakhstan’s ETS functions effectively. – 2016
Economy-Wide ETS Implemented. Kazakhstan is successfully implementing Asia’s first economy-wide ETS, with technical assistance and training on GHG reporting, management, auditing and verification provided by the EC-LEDS program. Implementing the national ETS will help Kazakhstan meet its GHG emission reduction targets in the energy, mining and chemical industries. – 2014
National Emissions Registry Established. Kazakhstan established a national GHG emissions registry to manage the country’s ETS, with EC-LEDS program assistance on GHG benchmarking, carbon offsets, GHG verification, and the methodology for allocating GHG emissions caps. The registry will help Kazakhstan demonstrate that the country’s GHG data and monitoring, reporting, and verification processes are of sufficient quality to support future integration with the European Union ETS. – 2014
Milestones
Additional Resources
Publications
Kazakhstan Launches Asia's First Economy-Wide Emission Trading System
Organizations and Programs
- U.S. Agency for International Development – Kazahkstan
- U.S. Department of State – Kazahkstan
- Asia Low Emission Development Strategies Partnership
Contacts
If you have any questions about Kazakhstan's activities through the EC-LEDS program, please contact us.