OSCE supports roundtable discussion on the status of Kazakhstan's draft environmental code

An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on the status of Kazakhstan’s draft environmental code took place on 1 October 2019 in Nur-Sultan.

Fifty representatives from the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources (Ecology Ministry), the Parliament, business sector, and non-governmental organizations participated in the discussion.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in partnership with the Association of Environmental Organizations of Kazakhstan.

Representatives of the Ecology Ministry and the non-governmental sector and discussed the current status of the draft environmental code and preparing relevant legislation. The participants identified major problematic areas in the submitted draft code and provided suggestions for improvement.

The work on the new edition of country’s major environmental document started in 2017 and a new edition is expected to be approved at the end of 2019. In partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Programme Office in Nur-Sultan has been involved in developing chapters on the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment. The Office is also supporting public discussions around these documents involving key stakeholders.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-term effort to promote the “green” economy in the host country and sustainable development principles in strengthening environmental security.