OSCE Centre helps promote green growth in northern Kazakhstan
PAVLODAR, Northern Kazakhstan, 27 September 2013 – Some 100 participants took part in an OSCE-supported conference on green growth and Kazakhstan’s strategy of transition to the green economy which took place today in Pavlodar.
The high profile event supported by the Centre and held in partnership with the Environmental Protection Ministry, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the local administration of Pavlodar region and the non-governmental organization “Coalition for Green Economy and G-Global Development”, brought together representatives from the business, academic and government sectors from Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan and Karaganda regions, as well as from civil society. The conference provides a good opportunity for local leaders, managers and experts to discuss the transition to the eco-friendly economy and find greener solutions to the specific needs of their region.
“With its new green growth strategy Kazakhstan made a big step towards attaining major goals of sustainable development,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “The OSCE Centre stands ready to support the country’s further efforts in the transition to a green economy.”
Nurzhan Ashimbetov, Deputy Akim of the Pavlodar region said: “To effectively implement the concept at the local level, we adopted a regional plan for the transition to the green economy over the next seven years. The plan provides for the development of key sectors of the regional economy taking into account the sustainable use of water resources, raising efficiency of power generation and energy use, the development of high-efficiency agriculture, improving the management of waste and the reduction of air pollution."
The event is one of a series of events to be held across the country aimed at raising awareness and building capacity for the implementation of Kazakhstan’s national strategy for transition to the green economy. Following a request from the Ministry, UNDP and the OSCE Centre are involved in the nationwide programme.