The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources signed the corresponding order on July 27, 2026. The document came into effect on August 10.

The new version significantly expands the range of terms used. The rules now include definitions of methodology, first transfer, leakage, baseline scenario, joint approach, validation and verification, as well as the international mechanisms of the Paris Agreement, authorization, and cancellation of carbon units.

State regulation is still carried out through three main instruments: carbon budgeting, carbon quotas and the administration of installation operators.

The carbon budgeting period consists of five consecutive calendar years. For each period, a carbon budget is determined, which sets the volumes of quota-based and non-quota-based emissions. The country’s total carbon balance for the corresponding period must not exceed the established budget.

Carbon quotas provide for a limitation of the total volume of quota emissions and the distribution of carbon quotas among the relevant entities.

Carbon dioxide emissions from the power generation, oil and gas, mining, metallurgy, and chemical industries are subject to quotas. The requirements also apply to certain manufacturing sectors, such as cement, lime, gypsum, and brick production.

A facility whose emissions exceed 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year in regulated sectors is considered subject to quotas. The operator of such a facility is considered subject to the quota.

What has changed for climate projects?

A separate new chapter is devoted to Kazakhstan’s participation in the market mechanisms provided for in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Participation in these mechanisms is voluntary.

The rules provide for the possibility of transferring the results of greenhouse gas emission reductions or increased absorption between countries. To implement such projects, the applicant must submit a project concept to the authorized body.

The authorized body submits the concept to the relevant government agencies within three business days. They review the document within 10 business days and provide either an industry-specific opinion or a reasoned refusal.

The system operator then conducts a concept review within 30 business days. If there are no objections, the project is registered in the relevant registry under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The applicant then develops project documentation, a monitoring plan, and a sustainability plan. These documents undergo validation and subsequent review by the system operator. The documentation review period is up to 30 business days.

If the decision is positive, the authorized body issues a letter of approval for the project and monitoring plan within 15 working days.

Following project implementation, the applicant conducts monitoring in accordance with the approved plan. Verified project implementation and sustainability reports are also reviewed by the system operator, which must be completed within 30 business days.

If the conclusion is positive, the emission reduction or absorption enhancement results are recorded in the relevant registry. However, they only receive internationally transferable status after authorization.

Authorization is performed separately for each verified project implementation report. The received letter does not authorize the advance transfer of the entire volume of results for future periods—each subsequent period will require new verification and authorization.

After authorization, the results are given the status of internationally transferable and information about them is sent to the international accounting system.

In addition, the new version of the rules establishes the procedure for implementing joint approaches to projects developed on the basis of voluntary carbon core principles, as well as the criteria for their approval.

The accounting of internationally transferred results of climate change mitigation within the framework of the project mechanisms of the Paris Agreement is separately regulated.

The new version of the rules came into force on August 10, 2026.

As a reminder, Kazakhstan is among the top 30 countries in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, ranking 23rd in the world in terms of total emissions, 11th in terms of emissions per capita, and 9th in relation to GDP.

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