16 November, Nur-Sultan - Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, Magzum Mirzagaliyev, and UNDP Resident Representative, Yakup Beris, held a meeting today to discuss the priority areas of cooperation under the new UNDP Country Programme for 2021-2025.

Mr. Mirzagaliyev expressed his gratitude towards the UNDP for its continuous support and emphasized the importance of consolidating the efforts in the area of environmental protection.

“Draft Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was developed, designed to address the environmental issues. Its core promises include introduction of the best available technologies as well as increasing accountability of polluters by making them pay for their ecological footprint. In addition, the Code will allow transferring 100 percent of the environmental payments to protection activities. On top of it, we are taking steps to improve the country's indicators in eco-development, an area in which joint work with UNDP is of a great importance. I am sure the Country Program for 2021-2025, focused on Kazakhstan’s development priorities, will become an impetus for achieving effective results,” said Magzum Mirzagaliyev, Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan.

“UNDP sincerely appreciates the longstanding cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources. We greatly value that the Government of Kazakhstan is assigning a high importance to the green economy, which we perceive as an accelerator for other areas of development. Withing our new Country Programme, we acknowledge that green economy can stimulate economic diversification, attract investments, create jobs and new businesses. Green growth is undeniably the right opportunity for Kazakhstan to maintain its growth and to grow in a sustainable manner,” stated Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.

The parties further discussed approval of the draft Concept for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity until 2030 by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The concept will become the key strategic document to address the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, maintaining ecological balance and identifying patterns for natural development of natural habitats, according to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Last but not least, the parties also discussed cooperation for implementing green technologies in Kazakhstan, measures to respond to the climate change, as well as the implementation of a recovery strategy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNDP’s activity in the country is guided by the Country Programme, which is aligned with the national development priorities.