Kazakhstan to take on well-deserved commitment on Post-Kyoto Protocol - Minister Ashimov

 The importance and complexity of the climate change problem is that it endangers not only the quality of living on the planet, but the existence of human beings on Earth. As Barack Obama said in his speech, if the pace of changes will be the same, in a decade we will see irreversible processes. Some countries can disappear. For Kazakhstan the global warming leads to reduction in glacial area, the Aral Sea tragedy and problems with Balkhash. In this context the role of the Kyoto Protocol aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is very important.

 Kazakhstan joined the Kyoto Protocol in 2001. This March the Parliament of Kazakhstan ratified the Protocol, the President signed the law that came into force on September 17. During the forum Vice Prime Minister of Russia Igor Shuvalov said that even some G8 countries do not carry out their obligations. Our Government considers that signing of a document means its full implementation.

  At the summit we discussed the issue of a new global agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions after 2012. Kazakhstan will take part in the post-Kyoto process and assume obligations, which will be announced at the Bangkok meeting on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Copenhagen Conference. By the Prime Minister's resolution there was formed a special commission consisting of the representatives of our ministry, ministries of energy and mineral resources, industry and trade, economy and budget planning in Kazakhstan. We should define the obligations we will undertake. It is a difficult task since very strict requirements can hinder industrial development, the Caspian shelf development and national economy as a whole. We can not accept obligations that can be assumed by small countries. Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world. We have the Caspian Sea, Northern Kazakhstan rich in coal and etc.

Kazakhstan will take on well-deserved commitments to address environmental problems. According to the President's decree, all investments received through the Kyoto Protocol and post-Kyoto process will be directed to the formation of law-carbon "green" economy in Kazakhstan.

  At the summit President of France Nicolas Sarkozy suggested creating a single world ecological organization. Kazakhstan backs this idea. Each country suffers from its own problems connected with the global warming. The states have national strategies. The new structure will help develop an international strategy taking into account all national programs.

 Did Kazakhstan begin to sell gas emissions quotas?

   There exists an established order for quotas sale. This year we register all greenhouse gas emissions. Companies will get quotas and work under them. According to the Environmental Code, any violator will face stiff fines. The Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control has a right to suspend any enterprise polluting the environment.

To attract about 1 billion dollars annually we should work hard with the international organizations.

 How do you estimate prospects for reaching agreement in Copenhagen?

   I think we can anticipate a tangible progress since the "heavy artillery" - leading developed and developing countries have taken up the struggle. During the summit we listened to the proposals of the USA, Japan, China and France. We hope for positive results from the Copenhagen meeting.