Climate change

Many development projects within Kazakhstan are not focused on climate risk management interventions (which includes both climate-related disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation) (CRM) and have been undertaken on an ad hoc basis and in isolation from similar endeavours, with little focus on up-scaling. Few development projects take into consideration the complexities and multi-sectoral impacts of climate change. Furthermore, few economic assessments in Kazakhstan showcase the economic impacts of climate change with and without adaptation and as a result there is very little political traction for implementing proactive adaptation responses.

The project was to enable Kazakhstan to prepare and submit its Third National Communication to the Conference of Parties (CoP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in accordance with its commitments as a Party to the Convention as mandated by Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention and subsequent CoP decisions. It updated and strengthen information provided regarding national circumstances, inventories of greenhouse gases, policies and measures undertaken to mitigate climate change, assessments of vulnerability to climate change and steps taken to adapt to climate change, and information on public awareness, education, training, systematic research and observation, and technology transfer. The project also increased the capacity of experts and institutions in Kazakhstan to produce subsequent National Communications that meet all guidelines established by the CoP and that serve as a source of information for national policies and measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change in key economic and social sectors.

Overall objective: help build climate resilience of vulnerable human systems, ecosystems and economies through the mobilization of knowledge and technologies to support adaptation capacity building, policy-setting, planning and practices

Specific Objectives: (1) improve availability and accessibility of knowledge relevant to adaptation, and enhance dissemination of information on good adaptation practices; (2) strengthen targeted knowledge support and advisory services to governments, planners and practitioners; (3) enhance capacity of developing country institutions working on adaptation.

The project was the continuation of a long work between UNDP Country Office and MEP aimed at promotion of sustainable development policy and strengthening the capacity of state bodies in the most actual issues of environmental management and international cooperation. The goal of the project: rendering assistance to MEP in promotion of Kazakhstan transition to sustainable development through strengthening the integration of sustainable development principles into the system of strategic planning considering the priorities of the global and regional policy. The project was aimed at the development of the state sector potential to introduce the policy of low-carbon development and promote active participation in the international processes related to implementation of the commitments under the UNFCCC. The project was also contribute to the development of the policy on adaptation to climate change.

This project was to increase the adaptive capacity of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and of the Chu-Talas Commission to ongoing and future climate change impacts, ensure coordination of adaptation actions in the Chu-Talas basin and thereby help to prevent possible negative effects on regional security.