The government of the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan is looking to crack down on greenhouse gas emissions. That will affect all industrial enterprises, but mostly, the oil and gas, metallurgy, and electricity sectors.
2015 is poised to become a pivotal year in the world-wide fight against the greenhouse gases. In November-December this year, 125 countries will meet in Paris for the World Climate Summit with a goal to reach a consensus on developing a new agreement to contain the temperature growth on Earth within the 2 degrees Celsius range nationally and globally.
Following the UN recommendations, these countries intend to tighten the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by introducing new standards of technical requirements for industrial enterprises and new emission quotes.
These restrictions are caused by the rapidly growing air pollution. Trying to keep pace with the others, Kazakhstan also plans to tighten its environmental regulations.
According to the official data, Kazakhstan’s emissions per person are twice as high as the world level.
“The situation is very serious. As a physicist, I am concerned that the heat generated by the industrial enterprises is accumulating on our planet intensifying the greenhouse effect and leading to higher water temperatures in the ocean. What this is fraught with is known to many”, – Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik said in his speech at the “De-carbonization of Kazakhstan’s Economy – Conclusions and Outlook” session of the recent Astana Economic Forum.
He told the session of the foreign experts’ grim picture of the Earth’s future in a hundred years. “For example, the Columbian scientists are publishing materials about what is happening with soil humidity and how the animal habitats are shrinking, and the glaciers are melting, including here, in Central Asia. The icecap is reducing as a result of higher temperatures. Everything is very fragile, so all countries should make new decisions to preserve the planet we live on,” the minister said.
According to the experts, it is the climate factors that will slow down the economic development.
“Our ministry is developing a 2020 government action plan to reduce emissions. In addition, amendments to legislative acts are being drafted to transition Kazakhstan to “green economy”. Those amendments take into consideration the recommendations on regulating the greenhouse gases. These measures will help us reduce emissions and adapt the national economy to the global climate changes,” Shkolnik said.
He invited the scientists, businessmen, and environmental experts, both local and foreign, to join the discussion of the new rules of Kazakhstan’s legislation.
The competiveness of Kazakhstan’s economy depends on that. In preparation for the new Climate Agreement to be approved in Paris, Kazakhstan plans to develop target indicators for CO2 emissions by the industrial enterprises. Kazakhstan’s version of the document will be submitted for expert review before its approval by the government,” Shkolnik said.
The first national CO2 quote distribution plan was launched in Kazakhstan in 2013. It subjected 178 electric, energy and metallurgic enterprises to emissions control. The quotes under the plan were issued for a total of 147 million tonnes.
In 2014, the second two-year national plan till 2015 was launched. It covered 166 enterprises. The plan is to achieve a 1.5% emission reduction compared to 2010. In addition, the fines for excess CO2 emissions will grow substantially this year, to €40 for each excess tonne.
Speaking at the session, the UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Carolyn Browne said the British government supported Kazakhstan’s efforts in transitioning to a “green economy”. “This year’s Paris Climate Change Agreement is very important. The British government is also preparing for that event. Our goal is to reduce emissions by 80%,” the diplomat told the session.
According to her, investment in renewable energy will pay off.
Her opinion is shared by George Safonov of the Russia’s Higher School of Economy, which participates in a number of projects in Kazakhstan.
“By 2040, our countries may easily use up the limit of the CO2 emission restrictions. The current trend is such that the temperature on the Earth may rise 6 degrees, which is fraught with global warming,” Safonov said. To avoid that, he believes, everybody should cut their emissions by half.
“To achieve such a colossal reduction of environmental impact is a massive task. The question is how to implement that,” the Russian expert said.
According to him, both Russia and Kazakhstan should more actively implement energy efficiency and energy preservation. “So, what should a country like Russia do to considerably cut its emissions? Energy efficiency increase should be not 10%, but at least 63%. Energy consumption should decrease by at least 86%,” Safonov said.
He believes an answer lies in an aggressive de-carbonization of 97% of the power industry, and in total conversion to electric transport. “It is necessary to expedite the implementation of the carbon capture and disposal technology. It is a big job. The existing projects and technologies are still very expensive. New generation nuclear power stations are needed. It is necessary to search for nanomaterials and to actively develop renewables,” he said.
Safonov said Kazakhstan has all the conditions to carry out such tasks. “You have good talents, and you need to use the human potential with scientific background. It is doable for you,” he said.
He also talked about Kazakhstan’s favourable conditions for developing renewables: its wind, solar, and hydro resources, large expanses of agricultural lands that can be used for developing bio fuels, huge uranium reserves, and a political will.
All the other foreign speakers at the forum agreed that Kazakhstan could considerably cut its environmental restoration costs by implementing the next generation innovative technology in its power industry and by developing renewables. Billions of dollars go down the drain. What you earn from the economic growth, you spend on rehabilitation of the environment they said.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/kazakhstan-aims-to-cut-co2-emissions-as-paris-summit-nears/