Green Energy Transition: It's Crucial to Incorporate Industrial Regions in the Shift to Sustainable Energy Solutions
Rewritten Article:
Almaty currently tops the global pollution chart, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality tech company. The city's air quality index soared to 256, compeling residents to take preventive measures such as wearing masks, sealing windows, and using air purifiers to safeguard their health.
Savva Brown, an environmental policy expert, ponders over Kazakhstan's urgent need for a decarbonized economy—one that prepares the nation for a future devoid of fossil fuels, alleviating residents from the clutches of pollution. However, this change must be a just transition, ensuring those dependent on fossil fuel industries avoid the economic abyss and find sustainable alternatives instead.
The coal industry, along with mining and processing of other minerals, churn out immense air pollutants. Unsurprisingly, towns like Pavlodar, Shymkent, Ekibastuz, Oskemen, Karagandy, and Temirtau—industrially-dependent cities—report the highest pollution levels within the country. These very towns, which suffer the most from pollution, will bear the brunt of the nationwide decarbonization efforts.
In 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced a bold goal: Kazakhstan will fully decarbonize by 2060. This mission implies a transformation, with coal mining operations shutting down, steel plants and factories being equipped with green technologies, and a huge influx of solar, wind, and hydro energy infrastructure.
Such changes could reshape Kazakhstan's economic landscape—coal, after all, accounts for 70% of the country's energy production. But, have the Kazakh citizens, whose lives will be affected most, been asked about their opinions on this transition?
A recent study conducted by the University of Central Asia, funded by Bankwatch, surveyed over a thousand Kazakh citizens across the nation to gauge their views on climate change and the prospect of a decarbonized economy. The study aimed to determine public awareness about climate change, understand apprehensions about fossil fuel-based industries losing ground, and grasp their opinions on existing government energy policies.
Among the respondents, 76.8% expressed support for renewable energy development, while 92.3% were cognizant of the impacts of climate change. However, a significant percentage of industrial city dwellers expressed anxiety about potential job losses, which is likely exacerbated by a lack of awareness about the country's energy transition policies—54.8% of respondents had no inkling about such policies.
Citizens, regardless of urban, industrial, or rural backgrounds, generally support the transition to cleaner energy. People seek more information on government policy, especially those living in industrial areas that are still reliant on fossil-fuel mining. For the government to adequately respond to citizen concerns and input, interactions between citizens and authorities should be strengthened. Additionally, the government should endeavor to invest in these industrial areas for programs such as job retraining, education infrastructure, and adaptable business environments.
Avoiding a situation analogous to the Appalachian region in the United States, where the coal industry's decline led to economic hardship and social unrest, is essential. Decarbonization, while imperative to address the global climate crisis and local pollution problems, must occur under a just transition. Phasing out fossil fuel-reliant industries and offering viable green alternatives becomes integral for ensuring economic stability and future prosperity. Authorities need to reach out to vulnerable groups—such as women—to ensure no one is left behind. The success of this transition cannot be achieved if rural and industrial regions are not part of the conversation. This necessitates targeted public awareness campaigns, increased investment, and a genuine commitment by the government to listen to the voices of those most affected.
Kazakhstan's future gleams bright and green. Let's ensure every citizen experiences the benefits of leaving fossil fuels behind.
The author is Savva Brown, an environmental policy expert and a program assistant at the University of Central Asia (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic).
Enrichment Data:
- Roundtable discussions involve stakeholders to bridge the gap between policy intentions and societal expectations, promoting a just and sustainable transition.
- Sustainable Industry Vision 2030 serves as the backbone of Kazakhstan's green economic transformation, aiming for a more environmentally-friendly industry and increased employment opportunities in renewable energy sectors.
- Kazakhstan's intensified emission reduction targets reflect the country's commitment to contribute to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, setting a goal to cut carbon emissions by 75% by 2050.
- Renew Kazakhstan is the government's flagship investment program aimed at the modernization and expansion of the renewable energy sector, increasing the share of renewable energy in the national electricity generation from 3% to 50% by 2050.
- Global Green and Resilient Cities Fund (G-Leap) supports Kazakhstan in its commitment to a green urban transition, providing funding for green urban initiatives intended to make cities more climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable.
- To ensure a just transition towards a decarbonized economy in Kazakhstan, roundtable discussions with stakeholders could bridge the gap between policy intentions and societal expectations, fostering a sustainable and equitable transition.
- Sustainable Industry Vision 2030 serves as the foundation for Kazakhstan's green economic transformation, aiming to foster a more environmentally-friendly industry and create increased employment opportunities in renewable energy sectors.
- Kazakhstan's intensified emission reduction targets reflect the country's commitment to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, setting a goal to cut carbon emissions by 75% by 2050.
- Pursuing the government's flagship investment program, Renew Kazakhstan, will modernize and expand the renewable energy sector, increasing the share of renewable energy in the national electricity generation from 3% to 50% by 2050.
- To further support Kazakhstan's commitment to a green urban transition, international funding from the Global Green and Resilient Cities Fund (G-Leap) could be leveraged for green urban initiatives designed to make cities more climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable.
