Timur Kulibayev: gradual introduction of "green" technologies in Kazakhstan
Issues of environmental protection and industry transition to the "green" economy were the main topics of the working meeting of the head of the Presidium of NCE RK "Atameken" Timur Kulibayev and the chairman of the Committee for the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Industry (KGGMP) Nikolay Radostovets.
In the context of improving environmental legislation, according to Nikolai Radostovets, the Committee is preparing a whole package with specific regulations. In particular, it concerns the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Conception on the transition to a "green economy". For example, the development of a methodology for determining the level of danger and the coding of wastes, which will eliminate the legislative gap, providing a transparent and objective approach in the procedure for classifying waste. Moreover, it will be possible to implement costly projects to launch waste processing plants and significantly reduce wastes volumes.
According to the head of the KGGMP, the reformation of the system of collection of environmental taxes and payments is very process. Now, law enforcement practice, unfortunately, uses environmental legislation as a tool to replenish the budget, and the collected funds do not have a special purpose to be directed to environmental and nature restoration measures. For example, in Pavlodar region, only 0.3% of the total amount was spent on environmental measures, in Karaganda region - 3%.
Nikolay Radostovets noted that international organizations view the green economy as a strategic method for solving systemic problems of environmental degradation, ensuring the safety of natural resources, employment and competitiveness. He cited Belarus as an example. There is a legislative mechanism for the economic stimulation of environmental measures, the costs of which are compensated by environmental taxes. The amount of environmental taxes is reduced by the payers quarterly in the amount of investments for the construction or reconstruction, for example, of gas cleaning plants, devices intended for removal of pollutants from water, storage facilities, disposal of waste, etc.
In countries such as: the EU, the US, Japan, China, loans are provided through special funds at a rate of 1% to 6% to enterprises switching to the best available technologies, where interest on loans is partially or fully covered.
The chairman of the Atameken Presidium agreed with the need to develop a mechanism for the targeted use of environmental payments only for environmental protection measures, which would economically facilitate gradual introduction of green technologies in Kazakhstan for the enterprises, noting that against this background, Kazakh enterprises remain "one on one" with their problems and it is very difficult to talk about the possibility of driving competition with the members of the EEU.
"For the transition to the "green economy" it is necessary to increase energy efficiency in all spheres of the economy. It is necessary to modernize and build a new industrial and information infrastructure, develop renewable energy and environmentally safe transport, cover the needs of safe and high-quality food and water. This is not easy technically and economically. We will still come to a "clean" economy, step by step, taking into account the real state of our economy and the opportunities of the state, business entities and people" said Timur Kulibayev.
He added that it is necessary to have a scientifically sound anti-crisis state program to improve energy efficiency, to develop clean technologies and alternative energy, where the stages of transition with specific goals at each stage, activities, time frames, mechanisms of achievement and sources of financing will be clearly stipulated.
The head of the National Chamber instructed the Committee to apply to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to analyze international experience and, on the basis of the advanced target model of the green economy, to develop a system of measures to strengthen the technological potential of the national economy, allowing it to function on "green" principles.
The effective implementation of the National Plan will result in a gradual transformation of the national economy based on the implementation of the principles of a "green" economy and the achievement of sustainable development goals.
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