OSCE launches training seminars on Environmental Impact Assessment in Kazakhstan

An OSCE-supported training seminar on the development and implementation of an effective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in Kazakhstan in line with the Espoo Convention started on 19 May 2021.

EIA is an internationally recognized instrument that helps to integrate environmental and health considerations in planning and decision-making and facilitates the process of transition to a green economy. 

The four-week online seminar, divided into two-day training courses every week, will be conducted through 16 June and involve representatives from the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, regional ecology departments from across the country and NGOs. Topics will include theoretical aspects of the EIA and practical case studies, where participants will be able to analyze specific cases vis-à-vis their compliance with the Espoo Convention.

Some 60 participants attended the 19 and 20 May sessions, which were aimed to increase knowledge of national stakeholders about the procedures and benefits of effective implementation of an EIA.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the event in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE).  The event supports the Office’s long-term efforts to promote green growth and sustainable development principles to strengthen environmental security.