LocationsThe II International Congress ECOJER - "Green Life Better took place in Nur-Sultan
June 2, 2022
On June 2, 2022, the II International Congress ECOJER - "Green Life Better" took place in Nur-Sultan. The event has been organised by the Association "ECOJER" with the support of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA), United Nations Development Programme and UN Women.
The main theme of the Congress this year is the conservation of water resources. As the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov, stated in his welcoming speech, only 2.8 percent of Kazakhstan's territory is covered with water, while 2/3 is occupied by drylands. More than 40 percent of water resources come from neighbouring countries. "We need to strengthen our capacities to solve the problems on the ground: the development of water management infrastructure, monitoring and rapid response to changes in the quality of water resources, and effective water policy," the Prime Minister's welcoming speech said.
Experts predict that water consumption in the country will increase by 56 percent in 20 years, and the water deficit could reach 20 cubic kilometers per year.
"Obviously, we are already behind in our countermeasures. The new water code should not only focus on the rational use of water. It should protect water resources as much as possible. Turning a blind eye to the water problem is not an option. By our inaction, we are condemning our children and grandchildren to survival"Lazzat Ramazanova, Chair of the Council of ECOJER Association, Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan
UNDP has been an important partner of the Kazakh government in the field of sustainable water resources management for many years. "Many impacts of climate change are felt through water. Climate change is expected to further increase global water demand and intensify competition for water resources as the timing, quantity, and quality of available water changes. Today, we must reinvent our strategies to develop with and invest in nature. As UNDP, we highly appreciate the country's actions to implement the "green" agenda and are ready to further strengthen our cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan towards sustainable development for the people and the planet," said Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
The congress discussed the problem of introducing the latest technologies in companies to reduce harmful emissions. Participants believe that the process of decarbonization could take decades without significant government support.
"The longer companies delay the introduction of BAT, the more difficult the process of environmental cleanup will be. At the same time, environmental reforms cannot be implemented in isolation from economic reforms. The polluter pays principle has a profound social aspect, because the transition to clean technologies will require billions of dollars of investment, which in turn will affect production costs and tariffs. The state must develop effective economic incentives for an efficient energy transition"Rustem Kabzhanov, Director General of ECOJER Association
Company representatives emphasized that the “green” taxonomy developed last year establishes criteria for the environmental performance of companies for the granting of preferential loans. However, these tools have not yet been applied in practice, so government agencies and companies have been discussing how to promote their implementation.
At the same time, the effects of climate change around the world are exacerbating gender inequalities. In this context, a separate session of the Congress was held, attended by representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA), to discuss environmental measures being implemented in the organization's member countries. The congress also included a ceremony for the accession of major Kazakh companies to the World Economic Forum "Closing the Gender Gap" Accelerator. The goal is to unite government and business efforts to narrow the gender gap.
A total of eight panels and one plenary session were held during the congress. They were dedicated to the issues of decarbonization of the economy, industrial transformation, introduction of ESG in companies, sustainable financing instruments and other topics.
As a result of the congress, a list of proposals and recommendations for the administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be developed.
