OSCE Centre co-organizes meeting on Aarhus Convention’s implementation

Astana, Kazakhstan, 12 November 2014 – Over 100 representatives of the Parliament, Supreme Court, government, civil society and major enterprises exploring natural resources, discussed at the Public Council today in Astana the issue of  the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR).

The meeting was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana together with the Energy Ministry and the National Aarhus Centre. The ways and means to improve Kazakhstan’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) were discussed.

Participants exchanged opinions on the draft law amending some legislative acts on environmental matters with a special focus on the establishment of the PRTR in Kazakhstan. They shared views on its use as a tool to inform the public about the environmental situation, possible solutions of environmental problems and instruments for improving the industry’s competitiveness and raising public awareness. International experts from the Czech non-governmental organization Arnika acquainted them with the best practices of introducing the PRTR.

“The PRTR can be an effective instrument in government regulation of waste management, pollution and chemicals; in tracking the timing of emissions of hazardous chemicals and pollutants, as well as in the study of progress of emission reduction and in the prioritization of reduction and elimination of the most potentially harmful pollutants. Such a register could not just be a guarantee of the public’s right to a cleaner environment, but helps to make it healthier”, said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Therefore, our Centre supports Kazakhstan's intention to improve its standards to fully comply with all obligations under the Aarhus Convention.”

Deputy Energy Minister Talgat Akhsambiyev said: “PRTR is one of the main tools for improving public access to environmental information and the implementation of Kazakhstan’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention. To introduce it, the Energy Ministry has drafted a law amending the Environmental Code with certain requirements for adhering to the PRTR Protocol.”

The Aarhus Convention is a key UN document on access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. The PRTR was adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention in Kiev in 2003. Kazakhstan ratified the UNECE Aarhus Convention in 2000 but has yet to ratify the Protocol.

The event is part of the Centre’s longstanding efforts in advancement of the international standards of the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan.