Energy and Environment

UNDP supports national efforts to protect globally significant biodiversity and address the threats of global warming and ozone depletion. It promotes the management of wetlands, mountain agro-biodiversity, and rangeland ecosystems. UNDP supports improved energy efficiency in heat and water supply systems, and increased use of renewable energy sources.

Through the Small Grants Programme, which is supported by the Global Environment Facility, it provides funding to civil society for projects to protect the environment. Through outreach efforts, it informs citizens that their social and economic well-being depends on the wise use of environmental resources.

ON-GOING PROJECTS:

Kazakhstani wetlands (rivers, lakes, swamps, etc.) are important habitat for migratory birds and rare plant species. The project “ Integrated Conservation of Priority Globally Significant Migratory Bird Habitat: a Demonstration on Three Sites” promotes conservation of biological diversity in the Ural River delta, Alakol-Sasykkol and Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake systems. The project supported the development of the Law “On Protected Areas”, and amended of the law “On Animal Life”, the Water Code, and facilitated Kazakhstan’s accession to the Ramsar Convention and the inclusion of Kazakhstan’s unique wetlands into the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. To demonstrate the sustainable use of biological diversity the project supported the establishment of Akzhaiyk State Nature Reserve in the Ural River delta and the expansion of Alakol and Korgalzhyn Reserves. The project provides training for reserve staff and promotes development of ecological tourism by establishing Visit Centers and eco routes in protected areas. The establishment and operation of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund of Kazakhstan is one of the key project outcomes.
The wild fruit forests ecosystems in the Zailiyskiy and Dzhungar Alatau are a habitat for more than 100 plant varieties that have global significance. The project“In-situ Conservation of Kazakhstan’s Mountain Agrobiodiversity” supports the establishment of protected seed plots, improved management of Ili Alatau National Park and Almaty Nature Reserve. The project contributed to the establishment of Zhongar-Alatau State National Park. The project also works with local communities living in protected areas, implementing environmentally friendly alternative livelihoods including creation of centers for visitors and developing of ecotourism.
Mountain areas and large forests in East Kazakhstan are a part of the globally significant Altai-Sayan ecological region. This area is a habitat for a significant number of rare animals and endemic plant species. The project“Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion” works to expand protected areas, to improve management and to raise awareness of the region’s unique biodiversity. The project works with communities to involve them into biodiversity conservation activities by developing environmentally friendly alternative livelihoods.
Rangelands in Kazakhstan cover almost 70% of the country’s surface; however, over 26% of total rangelands in the country are degraded. The main goal of the project “Sustainable Rangeland Management for Rural Livelihood and Environmental Integrity” is to demonstrate best rangeland management practices, promote ecological integrity of natural pastures and improve the wellbeing of rural communities in four rural districts of Zhambyl Rayon of Almaty Oblast. The project also works to promote an enabling policy and regulatory environment for a comprehensive solution of the rangeland problem. It also provides training to local authorities, rural entities and farmers on how to apply integrated sustainable rangeland management approaches. Measures are also taken to improve the local infrastructure through development of mobile livestock breeding, assessment and adaptive management.
A significant portion of the world’s remaining natural Pontian steppe habitat (over 1.2 million km²) is found within Kazakhstan, one of the world’s largest countries (2.7 million km²). Kazakhstani steppe ecosystems include unique plant species and communities and many globally endangered steppe fauna species. However, steppes remain the least protected ecosystems in Kazakhstan. The goal of the project “Steppe Conservation and Management ” is to preserve globally significant biodiversity of Kazakh steppes through the establishment of specially protected areas. The project also works to develop and implement mechanisms of landscape-level rational use and protection of steppes in Irgiz, Torgai and Zhylanshyk river basins. Managers of existing and new steppe PAs receive training for systemic, institutional and individual capacity strengthening.
From the geographical and meteorological point of view Kazakhstan is one of the coun¬tries best positioned for large-scale wind power generation. The project “Kazakhstan - Wind Power market development initiative” assists the Government of Kazakhstan in the formulation of the National Wind Power Development Program and in building capacity to develop wind power projects and organize their financing. Project outputs which will be actively disseminated among state authorities and the private sector for investment raising purposes, include a Wind Atlas of Kazakhstan, a wind speed measurement program and an analysis of global experiences.
Better energy efficiency of heat supplying services, implementation of new financial models when investing into energy-efficient projects and local stakeholder capacity building are key areas of the project “Removing Barriers to Energy Efficiency in Municipal Heat and Hot Water Supply”. The draft law on energy saving and amend¬ments to the law on households have been developed. Activities in Astana, Almaty and Karaganda cities demonstrate energy saving approaches by engaging associations of apartment owners through training and grants to upgrade energy measure¬ment equipment. The first Energy Servicing Company (ESCO) in Kazakhstan is established in Karaganda city.
The pilot project “Energy Efficient Design and Construction in Kazakhstan” will showcase integrated design of residential buildings in several cities of Kazakhstan. The goal is to improve compliance with mandatory construction regulations on energy efficiency, standards and labelling of construction materials. The project will support development of domestic facilities to produce energy efficient materials and create a potential for an integrated approach to building design.
The project “Strengthening the Capacity in the Field of Sustainable Development Through Integration of Climate Change Issues Into Strategic Planning in the Republic of Kazakhstan” is the continuation of the partnership between UNDP and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. In 1995, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was ratified in Kazakhstan, followed by the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC in 2009. The project will render assistance to the Ministry to introduce the policy of low-carbon development and promote active participation in international processes related to implementation of commitments under the UNFCCC, and elaborate on the climate change adaptation policy.
Consequences of the climate change may negatively influence the sustainable development of the country thereby putting off the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. To mitigate the climate change, the information on inventory of greenhouse gases, policies and measures undertaken, assessment of vulnerability and adaptation steps need to be updated. The project will enable Kazakhstan to prepare and submit the Third National Communication to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate variability and change impacts (including climate-related disasters) and their inherent complexity are likely to pose considerable risks to important economic drivers, human welfare and the environment of Kazakhstan. As a result, climate variability is likely to trigger a suite of food security, water security, energy security, human health and poverty problems in the country. The main objective of the project "Climate Risk Management in Kazakhstan" is to promote reduction of climate-related disasters and adaptation to climate change in Kazakhstan and to integrate climate risk management into Kazakhstan’s core development policy and strategies.
Currently one of most topical health safety issues in Kazakhstan is recycling of unused or buried equipment containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs). At present Kazakhstan has no special regulatory framework regarding PCB inventories, storage, dismantling and recycling. Within the framework of the Project “Comprehensive POPs Management in Kazakhstan” the legislative and administrative frameworks will be strengthened, the PCB management capacity built and additional PCB sources identified. Efforts will also be made to replace, dismantle, and recycle, in a safe manner, 850 tons of PCB transformers, and to store and recycle PCB condensators.
In the recent past Central Asian countries were important sources of uranium and rare metals. Over 800 million tons of waste from mining and processing radioactive ores is stored in waste dumps of functioning and abandoned uranium mines in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Around 440 million tons or 54% of it is radioactive waste spread on the surface of tailings sites. The UNDP regional project “Strengthening Coordination for Sustainable Radioactive Waste Management in Central Asia” supports governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the development and implementation of prioritized interventions aimed at mitigating effects of radioactive waste.
UNDP promotes a dialogue and cooperation between the Central Asian countries in the area of integrated water resource management (IWRM). In 2009, a regional project “Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management and Fostering Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia” was launched in Kazakh¬stan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to strengthen the capacity of respective national agencies. The aim of the Kazakhstan’s project component is to support transboundary dialogue on the Ili-Balkhash river basin.
Considering that a remarkable amount of the population living in the rural areas of Kazakhstan are dependent on ground water to supply their needs, the recycling of waste is crucial to protect the environment and groundwater sources. The overall goal of the regional partnership of UNDP, Coca-Cola and Environmental Protection and Packaging Waste Recovery and Recycling Trust (CEVCO) “Adaptation of Packaging Waste Recovery and Recycling Trust in Kazakhstan” is the development of a sustainable retrieval system for recyclable wastes in Kazakhstan through strengthening the current legal basis for waste management and through dissiminating country-wide recycling practices, including promotion of waste separation at the source.
The major focus of the project “The Caspian Sea: Restoring Depleted Fisheries and Consolidation of Permanent Regional Environmental Governance Framework “CaspEco” implemented by UNDP and executed by UNOPS, is to support the littoral states’ efforts to halt the decline in bioresources and to restore depleted fisheries in the Caspian Sea through the implementation of agreed actions defined in the Caspian Strategic Action Plan.
Central Asia is very vulnerable to climate change and the majority of impact assessments predict a reduction in water availability due to glacier melting. Within the UNDP/UNECE project “Promoting Cooperation to Adapt to Climate Change in Chu-Talas Transboundary River Basin” a set of adaptation strategies will be developed and used as a pilot case for other river basins. Through coordination of adaptation actions in the river basin the project will increase the adaptive capacity of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and of the Chu-Talas Commission to respond to ongoing and future climate change impacts.
Since hazards are transboundary in nature, regional cooperation is vital in preparation to various natural disasters. With the support of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (DIPECHO) the project “Enhancing Disaster Risk Reduction Capacities in Central Asia” supports sustainable mechanisms for disaster risk reduction through the formation of the Central Asian Center for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction. This project aims to create synergies through improved inter-agency coordination, strengthened regional early warning and disaster preparedness and response capacities.
Within the strategic partnership of UNDP, ADB, GTZ, GM, ICARDA, and FAO with GEF support, the Multi-Country Capacity Building Project supports five Central Asian countries to halt land degradation by enhancing the capacity of each nation to execute their National Programming Frameworks.