Welcome speech of UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, Katarzyna Wawiernia at the Energy Week Central Asia and Caspian

September 5, 2024

a group of people sitting at a table — Photo: Energy Week Central Asia & Caspian 2024 organising committee

Qadırlı hanymdar men myrzalar!

On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, it is a great honour for me to be here at the Energy Week Central Asia & Caspian 2024.
I recall speaking here last year, and it is truly inspiring to see how our discussions and collaborations have evolved since then.

Today, as we confront a triple planetary crisis—climate disruption, loss of biodiversity, and escalating pollution – clean and affordable energy emerges as a crucial solution that directly addresses these interconnected challenges. As part of the UN-Energy Pledge, UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan places access to energy at the core of its mission. It aims to mobilize partners to provide 500 million more people with sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy by 2025.

The green transition offers tremendous potential, acting as a powerful driver for job creation, human rights protection, social justice, gender equality, women's empowerment, and poverty eradication. Maximizing these potential gains across the SDGs and other international frameworks is best achieved through deliberate efforts to connect the dots and build capacities to reap these benefits, with a commitment to leave no one behind.

Today, Kazakhstan recognizes the need to transition to a greener future and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. UNDP is actively supporting the government in fulfilling its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Today, we are proud to share our collective achievements in reshaping the renewable energy sector in Kazakhstan. Since 2018, UNDP has applied the De-risking Renewable Energy Investment (DREI) methodology. This approach is designed to strategically target interventions and create a "risk-return" profile. It encourages private investment in providing reliable, environmentally friendly, and affordable energy solutions in the country.

Photo: Energy Week Central Asia & Caspian 2024 organising committee

UNDP has played a pivotal role in adapting this methodology specifically for Kazakhstan. To attract foreign direct investment for the development of large-scale renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan, the site-specific renewable energy auctions system was introduced in 2019. It allowed the country to receive the lowest price for 1 kw of green energy. Today this mechanism is already making a significant impact, transforming Kazakhstan’s renewable energy landscape by facilitating more streamlined and effective development of large-scale renewable energy projects.

In terms of the small-scale renewable energy projects, UNDP was one of the few organizations that supported Ministry of Energy in advocating legislative amendments aimed at fostering the growth of small-scale renewable energy sources in Kazakhstan. The impact of these efforts is substantial. According to estimates, the implementation of rooftop solar installations in just 5-10 percent of households across the country would be equivalent to the energy output of a large thermal power plant with a capacity of 500-1000 MW.

Along with the regulatory and legal framework, UNDP has moved forward in collaboration with one of our strategic partners – “Damu” Entrepreneurship Development Fund and has jointly introduced and tested various financial support programs. It is important to highlight that the financial instruments developed under the entire UNDP-GEF energy project portfolio have significantly improved access to “green” financing for more than 60 projects of small and medium-sized enterprises with a total investment of more than $8 million dedicated to the implementation of green technologies. To ensure the continued sustainability of our efforts, our interventions were reinforced through the integration of green bond coupon rate subsidy instrument into the state support program.

However, the challenges of energy transition and decarbonization extend beyond individual projects or national efforts. They cannot be solved by one country alone, making collective action essential. UNDP is committed to driving systemic changes that support the global shift to renewable energy and inclusive green economies. As the urgency to combat climate change grows, coordinated efforts are more critical than ever. Only through partnership can we accelerate the transition and achieve sustainable, long-term solutions.

Thank you! Kop rakhmet!