Low-carbon urban development in Kazakhstan

In 2010 Kazakhstan announced its voluntary commitments to reduce GHG emissions by 15% by 2020 compared to the indicators dated 1990 and by 25% by 2050. The urban sector consisting of district heating, buildings, waste and transport is identified as the priority area within the project for climate change mitigation with a potential to reduce annual GHG emissions by 20-30 MtCO2 per year, which is almost 30% of the cumulative GHG abatement potential for Kazakhstan.

Positive urban GHG emission reductions will directly result in tangible socio-economic and local benefits – both for the economy and people through strengthening the reliability and sustainability of urban infrastructure, improving comfort and quality of services.

In order to achieve the national indicators of GHG emissions reduction the UN Development Program in Kazakhstan jointly with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility are implementing the project “Sustainable cities for low-carbon development”. The project is aimed at identifying projects on reduction of GHG emissions within urban infrastructure, as well as development and providing the mechanisms of its financial support. The project five components shall help the Government of RK to develop and implement complex measures to mitigate the climate change in urban sector.

Expected Results:

• Identification of priority areas related to climate change, as well as evaluation of financial resources for the implementation of various projects in 15 cities (regions) of Kazakhstan;

• Establishing of PPP, ESCO or other appropriate institutional to implement low-carbon urban planning;

• Attraction of new additional sources from banking sector, the Government and donor organizations for funding the low-carbon urban projects;

• Demonstration of economic expediency of reducing urban GHG emissions by implementing pilot projects;

• Creation of monitoring system to reduce GHG emissions during the implementation of the urban low-carbon projects, also its sale within the carbon platform of Kazakhstan which regulates emissions trade.

Partners:

· Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan

· Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

· “Damu” Entrepreneurship Development Fund” JSC

· Local state authorities

Public organizations

The project goals is to reduce emissions from the objects of the urban infrastructure through increase of its energy efficiency

Beneficiaries:

· Citizens of RK

· Government of RK

Project Duration:

· 2015-2024