I would like to welcome you to the capital of Kazakhstan. We are grateful for your participation in this important event. It is my pleasure to declare the International Forum "On the road to achieving goals of Paris Agreement and carbon neutrality" open.

The forum is dedicated to the upcoming 26th Conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow. Kazakhstan is consistent in its support to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' call for achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions.

Today we will discuss what we must do to achieve our common goal.

2020 was a very difficult year for the people and the planet. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the fragility of economic and social systems as well as poor protection of people's health and lives.

In this context, the ongoing climate change remains one of the most acute challenges of today's world.

The Sixth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides a very alarming overview of the current state of affairs.

According to the report, with current levels of greenhouse emissions, global warming of 1.5 to 2 degrees within this century will become inevitable.

Sea level rise, permafrost-melting, loss of Arctic ice - all that will accelerate as a result of the forecasted warming.

All this will lead to progressive loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, droughts, fires and floods.

Nowadays companies that set a course for carbon neutrality should carry out activities in two directions. First of all it is decreasing emissions from production and transportation, as well as switching to renewable energy sources. Secondly it is necessary to invest in net-zero projects to compensate emissions which cannot be eliminated for whatever reason. How our country plans to achieve carbon neutrality, what is being done to achieve it? International conference on carbon neutrality held in mid-October in Hilton hotel in capital gave an answer to these questions to some extent. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a speech at this conference. The speech of the President is brought to the attention of readers

We need to act, and we need to act now and immediately.

The last decade has been the hottest in the history of mankind. The rate of warming in our region - in Central Asia - is of concern and requires urgent action. This is especially relevant in terms of preserving water and food security and safety.

Kazakhstan is one of the ten largest producers of food-grade wheat and flour, exporting up to 7 million tons of wheat per year.

However, in case of the negative scenario, wheat yields may decrease by almost 40% by 2030.

According to 2020 UNDP data, in the conditions of expected climate change by 2030, the yield of spring wheat will be on average in seven studied areas. These are Akmola, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan regions, with 63-87% of its current level.

Given that Kazakhstan is the only exporting country in Central Asia, this will inevitably pose a threat to the food security of the entire region.

The above is a simple practical example of the fact that the fight against climate change is our common cause. This is an extremely important matter.

It should be clearly understood: the point of no return has not yet been passed. Countries and Governments can still influence climate change and its stabilization.

Kazakhstan understands that it is our common task to achieve the global temperature target of the Paris Agreement.

Despite significant dependence on natural resources (coal, oil, etc.), which are sources of energy, employment and fiscal revenues, Kazakhstan was among the first hundred countries to announce the achievement of carbon neutrality by the middle of this century.

Today, the draft Doctrine of Carbon Neutrality of Kazakhstan until 2060 will be presented to your attention.

The Doctrine provides basic approaches to the low-carbon transformation of the economy and industry. The Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources will present the Government's vision in more detail in his report.

Looking ahead, I want to emphasize that the Doctrine in the final version of the Doctrine should be pragmatic, rational and take into account the urgent needs of our economy, taking into account the specifics and structure. This is extremely important.

It is already obvious that achieving the ambitious goal of the Doctrine will require systemic efforts: modernization of the fuel and energy complex, revision of industrial and agro-industrial policy, new approaches in housing and communal services, construction and, in general, in the way of life of people.

According to the project, all coal-fired power plants will be decommissioned by 2050.

By 2060, the share of renewable and alternative energy sources will reach more than 80% of the total energy balance of the country.

The carbon neutrality scenario assumes active joint efforts of the government, business and society to achieve the declared goals.

Its successful implementation will make it possible to achieve not only the 2030 goal, that is, a 15% reduction in emissions compared to the 1990 level, but also a zero balance of greenhouse gases by 2060.

As a result, more than 9 billion tons of CO2 will be prevented from entering the atmosphere.

According to the draft Doctrine, the country will need almost US$700 billion to implement this scenario. Half of these investments are needed to modernize the electricity and heat production sector.

Of course, we have to count all the figures very carefully, carefully check the input data and make sure that the set of tools is correct.

The determining factor will, of course, be the support of these initiatives by society.

We are already taking a number of steps. To prepare for the big energy transition, we have adopted a new Environmental Code. It complies with advanced international standards.

Enterprises have been given the opportunity to modernize production facilities due to full exemption from environmental payments.

We are rebuilding the national system of trading GHG quota, and bringing them in accordance with relevant international systems.

Gas is becoming a more "green" alternative fuel to coal.

A large-scale gasification of the country has been completed. Today, almost 10 million of our citizens have access to reliable and environmentally friendly fuel.

We are implementing large-scale projects to convert thermal power plants from coal to gas in the largest cities - Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Karaganda.

By 2025, the ten most polluted cities will be gasified and switched to alternative energy sources.

Kazakhstan has enormous potential for development of renewable and alternative energy.

According to our plans, the share of renewable energy in the energy balance should be at least 15% by 2030.

In this regard, we are improving the regulatory environment, creating the most attractive conditions.

We have certain expectations in this area for a number of projects with our strategic international partners.

Kazakhstan pays great attention to "green" financing. "Green Finance Center" operates in the premises of AIFC.

The first placements took place last year. Kazakhstan Development Institute "Damu" together with UNDP successfully placed "green" bonds.

This year two placings of "green" bonds of the Asian Development Bank were carried out on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange to finance renewable energy facilities in Kazakhstan.

According to the UN, due to global warming and man-caused impact, the global water shortage may reach 40% by 2030.

Kazakhstan's water security largely depends on the hydrological and ecological state of transboundary rivers.

Today, there is a decrease in the volume of import water from neighbouring countries.

This leads to disturbance of the natural moisture balance of rivers and lakes, as well as to the deterioration of the environment in a number of regions of Kazakhstan.

A number of international agreements regulating the protection and use of international watercourses have been adopted under the auspices of the UN.

I think there is a need to coordinate efforts to actually fulfill international obligations through expanded dialogue and cooperation.

We count on the support of our partners and the international community in this matter.

Active afforestation plays an important role in the absorption of carbon dioxide.

Kazakhstan belongs to the low-forest countries. Total forest area is 30 million hectares, or 11% of the territory.

This year, a large-scale program for greening the country has been launched. 2 billion trees will be planted by 2025. This initiative is becoming a truly national project with great international resonance. The task is highly relevant, so it should be done without arithmetic ostentation and fraud.

We have also adopted a program to increase the planting of saxaul on the drained bottom of the Aral Sea. We plan to cover 1.5 million hectares by 2025.

In this matter, we cooperate with our Uzbek friends.

Kazakhstan is actively working on the climate agenda not only at the national, but also at the regional level.

This year Kazakhstan is chairing the Eurasian Economic Union.

Tomorrow, at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Presidents plans to adopt a statement on the climate agenda of the Union.

It is planned to confirm the intention to develop economic cooperation to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

At the EAEU level, we will endeavor to use energy-efficient approaches and technologies, introduce renewable and alternative energy sources, and develop low-carbon transport.

Given the close industrial, technological and economic ties within the Union, joint actions are certainly the key to success.

This is also true for global context. The future climate and the fate of our planet depend on the coherence of the actions of the international community.

Kazakhstan is ready to contribute to the common cause - the achievement of the global temperature goal.

I hope that today's conference will help us to come up with concrete solutions.

I wish you success!

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

Valuable opinions were expressed at today's meeting.

I think today's meeting was effective.

We are facing large-scale tasks that require bold decisions.

Significant funds are required.

In fact, we will achieve our goals if we will work together.

At the same time, climate requirements should not hinder trade and investment.

During the period of energy changes, developed countries play an important role.

In this sense, it is not enough for them to become an example for others.

In order for the emerging countries to accelerate the reduction of carbon share, they need to be provided with technological and resource support.

This is one of the important tasks.

The Government should develop cooperation in a new direction, i.e., on climate issues.

In this regard, it is necessary to strengthen relations with the United Nations organizations, the World Bank.

It is necessary to work with international financial organizations and governments of developed countries.

I wish you all good health and prosperity!

I would like to express my appreciation to all participants, including our foreign partners for constructive and extremely helpful input. I have no doubt that eventual success will be reached as soon as we will be together. Much work ahead of us. It is going to be very difficult job. But as I have already said - we must go ahead. Otherwise, we as a country will strategically loose. We need to win, and we must overcome it. Let's go ahead together as one community, one family. I wish everybody success.