Kazakhstan
1
KAZAKHSTAN
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
20-22 JUNE 2012
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
H.E. MR. NURLAN KAPPAROV
Your Exelency, Ms/Mr. President
Mr Chairman
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honor for me to speak here on behalf of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.
In the 20 years since our country became independent, we have achieved
many results: in particular, we became an active participant in the solution
of regional and global problems. President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s
initiatives on renunciation of nuclear weapons, the closing of the
Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the rescue of the Aral Sea as well as
others gained support at international level. Kazakhstan has already made
significant contributions to global security and environmental sustainability.
At national level we introduced strong measures to decrease pressure on
the environment, to improve the population’s health and quality of life.
We adopted programs for economic and social development, preservation
of natural resources and protection of ecosystems as part of our long-term
strategy of development till 2030.
2
Kazakhstan has fulfilled its obligations on most Millennium Development
Goals, including poverty reduction, providing primary education and
expanding women’s rights. New laws were adopted for strengthening
economic competitiveness, increasing energy efficiency and developing
sources of renewable energy. The National Council on Sustainable
Development as well as, the Civil Forum and Kazakhstan’s Ecoforum which
is an independent association of ecological NGOs actively operate in the
country. In partnership with international organizations and the
governments of other countries, hundreds projects have been
implemented.
Since RIO-92 we have increased the areas of national parks and specially
protected territories more than 20 times.
At the same time, many problems remain unsolved. These include transboundary
issues. Volumes of waste and emissions are still growing, and
ecosystems are suffering. There are real threats to the country’s
development from climate change. Thawing of glaciers caused by climate
change in Central Asia has led to a reduction of water resources and
degradation of ecosystems.
Central Asia states created sub-regional mechanisms to solve these issues
such as International Fund for the Aral Sea saving and Interstate
Commissions on sustainable development and water coordination.
However, these efforts are not enough, and new approaches are required.
Kazakhstan, as well as other states in the region, has enormous potential
for energy saving and development of renewable energy sources. There
are also considerable opportunities for investing into raising the efficiency
of the use of water and soil. Billions of tons of accumulated waste can be
also a source of raw materials, and extensive areas of clean farmlands and
water reservoirs provide possibilities for organic agriculture and fishery as
well as for ecotourism. Green investments of this kind can form a basis for
modernizing the economy and create new jobs.
Kazakhstan’s experience shows that to achieve potential of this kind we
need joint actions by the developed countries and the developing world.
3
We also need to create a reliable and long-term basis for reforms and for
investments.
When President Nazarbayev addressed the 66th session of the General
Assembly of the United Nations in September 2011, he proposed reviewing
the basic provisions of the existing paradigm of development, and adopting
the Global Energy Ecological Strategy, as well as implementing the "Green
Bridge" Interregional Partnership Program.
The Global Energy Environmental Strategy is a long-term program for
moving to sustainable development based on conflict-free energy supply of
all countries without damage to the environment. It provides for
acceptance of unified norms and standards in energy production and
consumption as well as global financial mechanism for support of
sustainable energy supply.
The "Green Bridge" Partnership Programme is a voluntary mechanism open
to any country, company or organization to provide practical assistance in
transferring the best management experience, green technologies and
innovations.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all countries,
organizations and Brazil as the host country, for supporting our President’s
initiatives in the Rio+20 outcome document.
Implementing these initiatives will undoubtedly make an essential
contribution to global efforts to transition to a green economy based on
sustainable development goals.
Mr Chairman,
Let me conclude by saying that Kazakhstan believes that there is no
alternative to a green economy. Economic development is a priority for all
countries, but it must not destroy the ecosystem and undermine the
natural basis of life on Earth. We must take all measures we can to create
the conditions needed to pursue a model of sustainable development at all
levels.
4
We owe it to our children and future generations to make a decisive break
with the past.
We invite all interested countries to work with us.
Thank you for attention!
KAZAKHSTAN
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
20-22 JUNE 2012
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
H.E. MR. NURLAN KAPPAROV
Your Exelency, Ms/Mr. President
Mr Chairman
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honor for me to speak here on behalf of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.
In the 20 years since our country became independent, we have achieved
many results: in particular, we became an active participant in the solution
of regional and global problems. President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s
initiatives on renunciation of nuclear weapons, the closing of the
Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the rescue of the Aral Sea as well as
others gained support at international level. Kazakhstan has already made
significant contributions to global security and environmental sustainability.
At national level we introduced strong measures to decrease pressure on
the environment, to improve the population’s health and quality of life.
We adopted programs for economic and social development, preservation
of natural resources and protection of ecosystems as part of our long-term
strategy of development till 2030.
2
Kazakhstan has fulfilled its obligations on most Millennium Development
Goals, including poverty reduction, providing primary education and
expanding women’s rights. New laws were adopted for strengthening
economic competitiveness, increasing energy efficiency and developing
sources of renewable energy. The National Council on Sustainable
Development as well as, the Civil Forum and Kazakhstan’s Ecoforum which
is an independent association of ecological NGOs actively operate in the
country. In partnership with international organizations and the
governments of other countries, hundreds projects have been
implemented.
Since RIO-92 we have increased the areas of national parks and specially
protected territories more than 20 times.
At the same time, many problems remain unsolved. These include transboundary
issues. Volumes of waste and emissions are still growing, and
ecosystems are suffering. There are real threats to the country’s
development from climate change. Thawing of glaciers caused by climate
change in Central Asia has led to a reduction of water resources and
degradation of ecosystems.
Central Asia states created sub-regional mechanisms to solve these issues
such as International Fund for the Aral Sea saving and Interstate
Commissions on sustainable development and water coordination.
However, these efforts are not enough, and new approaches are required.
Kazakhstan, as well as other states in the region, has enormous potential
for energy saving and development of renewable energy sources. There
are also considerable opportunities for investing into raising the efficiency
of the use of water and soil. Billions of tons of accumulated waste can be
also a source of raw materials, and extensive areas of clean farmlands and
water reservoirs provide possibilities for organic agriculture and fishery as
well as for ecotourism. Green investments of this kind can form a basis for
modernizing the economy and create new jobs.
Kazakhstan’s experience shows that to achieve potential of this kind we
need joint actions by the developed countries and the developing world.
3
We also need to create a reliable and long-term basis for reforms and for
investments.
When President Nazarbayev addressed the 66th session of the General
Assembly of the United Nations in September 2011, he proposed reviewing
the basic provisions of the existing paradigm of development, and adopting
the Global Energy Ecological Strategy, as well as implementing the "Green
Bridge" Interregional Partnership Program.
The Global Energy Environmental Strategy is a long-term program for
moving to sustainable development based on conflict-free energy supply of
all countries without damage to the environment. It provides for
acceptance of unified norms and standards in energy production and
consumption as well as global financial mechanism for support of
sustainable energy supply.
The "Green Bridge" Partnership Programme is a voluntary mechanism open
to any country, company or organization to provide practical assistance in
transferring the best management experience, green technologies and
innovations.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all countries,
organizations and Brazil as the host country, for supporting our President’s
initiatives in the Rio+20 outcome document.
Implementing these initiatives will undoubtedly make an essential
contribution to global efforts to transition to a green economy based on
sustainable development goals.
Mr Chairman,
Let me conclude by saying that Kazakhstan believes that there is no
alternative to a green economy. Economic development is a priority for all
countries, but it must not destroy the ecosystem and undermine the
natural basis of life on Earth. We must take all measures we can to create
the conditions needed to pursue a model of sustainable development at all
levels.
4
We owe it to our children and future generations to make a decisive break
with the past.
We invite all interested countries to work with us.
Thank you for attention!
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