March 27, 2025 Astana – The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and JSC Zhasyl Damu, with the support of the World Bank, are launching a new project, the Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI), aimed at developing and improving the emissions trading system (ETS) in Kazakhstan, as well as integrating carbon pricing mechanisms into the country’s economic strategy.
“This project plays a key role due to its relevance and significance. I hope that the work on this important project will bring excellent results and have a positive impact in the long term for the country,”  notes the significance of the project, Director of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) Country Office in Kazakhstan  Erlan Zhumabayev.
According to Erlan Zhumabayev, Kazakhstan is at the forefront of carbon pricing in Central Asia, having become the first country in the region to establish an emissions trading system (ETS). With global climate ambitions increasing, strengthening Kazakhstan’s ETS system is critical to ensuring its effectiveness and efficiency, and alignment with international best practices.
To support the efforts of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Zhasyl Damu JSC, the operator of the emissions trading system in Kazakhstan, to develop the carbon market in Kazakhstan and support the country’s climate commitments, the World Bank’s Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI) Trust Fund has allocated a grant of US$4.8 million to Kazakhstan through June 30, 2028. The PMI Trust Fund helps countries design, test, and implement pricing instruments in line with their development priorities. The project is expected to improve Kazakhstan’s ETS to stimulate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the country by introducing a minimum carbon price, conducting industry analysis, and promoting a domestic offset market. The project will also help improve the monitoring, reporting, and verification system in the ETS, the distribution of carbon units through the launch of auctions, and the modernization of the information infrastructure for transactions.
The event was attended by representatives of government agencies, businesses, international organizations and technical experts. The event discussed issues of strengthening the national emissions trading system (ETS), introducing auction trading of quotas, assessing the coverage of the ETS outside the energy sector and COâ‚‚ emissions, and preparing Kazakhstan for participation in international carbon markets (Article 6 of the Paris Agreement). The event will also become an important platform for exchanging experiences and discussing new solutions (taxes, emission credits) in the field of carbon regulation.
During the event, strategic directions for the development of the carbon market in Kazakhstan were identified. Following the event, the participants expressed support for this initiative and emphasized the need for further interaction to achieve national climate goals.
Additional information:
Erlan Zhumabaev  – Director of the CAREC Country Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan,  [email protected]