More than 100 representatives from diverse sectors in Kazakhstan gained practical skills in developing high-integrity carbon projects

January 28, 2026

Diverse group around conference table with laptops, papers, water bottles, and red cups. — Capacity building event participants

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Danil Akramov

UNDP in Kazakhstan, in partnership with the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and under the Global UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), held a two-day training to strengthen practical skills in developing and implementing high-integrity carbon offset projects in forestry and agriculture. The event brought together over 100 participants from government, finance, industry, academia, validation and verification bodies, airlines, the private sector, and carbon project developers.

Carbon markets are becoming increasingly important in Kazakhstan for climate change mitigation, land-use management, and climate finance. Engagement in these mechanisms involves navigating complex technical frameworks and meeting rigorous environmental and social integrity requirements.

Forests are essential for meeting climate and conservation goals. By absorbing carbon through wood, leaves, and soil, they help reduce greenhouse gases and support climate stability. As Kazakhstan advances its climate commitments, it is increasing efforts to leverage carbon markets, particularly in forestry and agriculture.

Effective participation in carbon markets requires both a solid understanding of key concepts and practical knowledge of designing, evaluating, and implementing projects according to international standards.

Photo: Man in suit at podium in conference room; slide projected on left; audience seated. — Azamat Abuov, Head of the forest reproduction and use department at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Danil Akramov

“Carbon markets are primarily seen as a tool to attract private investment into capital-intensive and technically complex forestry projects that are difficult to sustainably finance through public budgets alone,”

noted Azamat Abuov, Head of the forest reproduction and use department at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Due to the complexity of carbon projects in forestry and agriculture, the training focused on practical capacity building. It covered key components such as establishing baselines, demonstrating additionality, monitoring, reporting and verification systems, safeguards, risk identification, and nature-based solutions. The goal was to create a shared technical foundation for stakeholders involved in carbon markets and high-integrity project implementation.

Speaker in a red blazer at a podium presenting; slide shows BIOFIN and UNDP logos. — Assel Nurbekova, Head of the Energy and Environment Department at UNDP Kazakhstan

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Danil Akramov

“Worldwide, carbon markets are becoming part of a broader climate and socio-economic policy architecture. They help link climate targets with land use, biodiversity conservation, and nature-positive investment. In Kazakhstan, UNDP supports this integration through the global BIOFIN initiative, which helps the country strengthen the policy, institutional, and financial foundations needed to mobilize investment for biodiversity-positive climate action,”

said Assel Nurbekova, Head of the Energy and Environment Department at UNDP Kazakhstan.

Effective use of carbon markets depends on clear, realistic, and investor-friendly regulations. Kazakhstan is already taking consistent steps in this direction, enhancing its legislation. With BIOFIN’s support, legal provisions for carbon offset projects have been added to the Forest Code, creating new opportunities for forest sector development and climate finance.

Three professionals in business attire sit at a conference table with a laptop and papers.

Group of people gathered around a table with laptops, papers, and coffee cups in a bright room.

Group of colleagues gathered around a laptop, collaborating at a table.

Photograph: Group of people in a meeting around a table, one person gesturing with a raised hand.

People at round tables in a conference room; foreground person in a blazer uses a laptop.

Diverse team around a conference table, examining a laptop and documents.

Team members collaborate over laptops at a conference room table.

Presenter in beige shirt holds microphone and gestures toward a projected slide.

Speaker in blazer with microphone and laptop covered in stickers, presenting beside a projected screen.

Man in a suit presenting with a laptop in a conference room; camera on tripod in background.

Colleagues in a conference room sit around a table with laptops and orange soda bottles.

Capacity building event participants

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Danil Akramov

Carbon markets are more than a tool for reducing emissions; they connect climate goals, sustainable land use, and nature investment. Voluntary and compliance markets remain institutionally distinct but are increasingly influenced by shared integrity expectations—particularly for nature-based solutions. This is driving demand for robust technical expertise, cross-sector coordination, and clear governance frameworks to build confidence among regulators, investors, and buyers.