National preparatory conference for OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum held in Astana
ASTANA, 25 June 2013 – A two-day OSCE-supported national high-level conference dedicated to improving the environmental footprint of energy-related activities, assisting Kazakhstan’s strategy of transition to a green economy and marking the 15th anniversary of the Aarhus Convention on environmental democracy, began today in Astana.
Organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Supreme Court, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kazakhstan and National Aarhus Centre, the event brought together more than 160 government officials, parliamentarians, foreign and local businessmen, experts from academia, and representatives from international and non-governmental organizations.
Speakers will talk about new technologies and share best practices in energy efficiency, renewable energy, low-carbon development, environment-friendly industries and public participation in environmental governance. The conference will help formulate national recommendations for the Concluding Meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, to be held in Prague from 11 to 13 September.
“The transition to a green economy will require an annual investment of 3-4 billion USD though it will help Kazakhstan enter the list of the 30 most developed countries in the world by 2050,” said Bektas Muhamedzhanov, Vice-Minister for Environmental Protection.
“The green economy is a new paradigm of development, which will improve the environmental security of each state. This is a sphere, where the OSCE for sure should take a leading role,” said Aytkul Samakova, Member of the Parliament (Majilis).
Opening the event Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, delivered a message from Halil Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, who said: “Throughout 2013, representatives from the government of Kazakhstan as well as from Kazakhstan’s civil society have actively participated in the preparatory process of the Forum.” Zarudna emphasized that the conclusions from today’s meeting would feed into the recommendations to be developed at the Forum.
On the second day representatives of the judiciary and eight Aarhus Centres across Kazakhstan’s regions will discuss implementation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Aarhus Convention and the environmental challenges the country currently faces. Two separate trainings events on legal matters for judges and on field activities for operatives of the eight Aarhus Centres were also organized in the framework of the conference.
The first national high-level preparatory meeting for the annual OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum was initiated by the OSCE Centre last year.