OSCE Centre supports environmental monitoring by civil society in Kazakhstan
TEMIRTAU, Kazakhstan, 9 October 2012 – An OSCE-supported seminar on air pollution monitoring started in Temirtau in Central Kazakhstan today.
The three-day seminar is part of the effort to help establish an autonomous public capacity for monitoring the environment. The event is organized by the non-governmental organization Socio-Ecological Foundation, which is a member of the affiliation of environmentalists’ organizations EcoForum of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Environmental Protection Ministry and two American non-governmental organizations, the Center for Safe Energy and Global Community Monitor. Some 30 representatives from non-governmental organizations, industry and government are taking part in the discussions and training on air monitoring in accordance with the international requirements.
“The purpose of this initiative is to encourage a community-based approach to environmental security, train people who would be able to independently address environmental issues in the regions, and help develop tools and networks for non-governmental organizations serving their communities,” said Alexander Peytchev, the OSCE Centre in Astana’s Economic and Environmental Officer.
Zulfikhar Zholdassov, the Head of the Karaganda Environmental Department said: “The project is of high importance for the Karaganda Region, and particularly for the city of Temirtau where large Kazakhstani enterprises are based. Public monitoring of air pollution is a valuable contribution by civil society in addressing environmental concerns.”
“Today’s event will contribute to enhancing environmental transparency and public access to reliable information, especially on air pollution in industrial cities,” said Kaisha Atakhanova, the Chair of Socio-Ecological Foundation. “In order to improve the environmental situation, we have to improve the co-operation between local administrations, industries, civil society and mass media.”
The event in Temirtau on air pollution will be followed by another pilot project on Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea coast dedicated to marine and wetlands pollution. It complements previous OSCE efforts to support wider civil society participation in environmental protection, sustainable development and environmental decision-making.