PRESS- RELEASE
Astana
April 25, 2008
10:00 in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
Roundtable: Building capacity for Effective Voluntary Carbon Financing in Kazakhstan.

Climate Change Coordination Centre, the OSCE Centre in Astana and the UNDP Country Office in Kazakhstan organize a Roundtable for political people to discuss opportunities for Kazakhstan to participate in voluntary carbon mechanisms UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Political dialogue will provide an opportunity for the parties to exchange views on the usefulness and acceptability of mechanisms for Kazakhstan, the parties will also discuss the necessary institutional, legislative and management changes to give greater attention to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Another objective of the roundtable is intended to raise awareness and understanding of government officials in the "post-Kyoto" issues and changes on the international scene regarding the implementation of the requirements of the UNFCCC.

A joint political dialogue aimed at solution of the following issues:
1. What is the status of development of voluntary financial mechanisms of the UNFCCC? How are voluntary and retail sectors combining with the total carbon market?
2. Who are the main sellers and buyers in the market? What are the main concerns and views of buyers?
3. What motivates buyers to buy voluntarily reduced carbon emissions? How much are willing buyers to pay for reduced emissions and in what quantities?
4. What are the further possible ways of promoting voluntary / retail credit market?
5. What is the status of "post-Kyoto" process after the Conference of Parties in Bali?

The roundtable will gather at the negotiating table national authorized persons responsible for policies on climate change and the implementation of the UNFCCC, representatives of the President Administration of the RK, the Ministry of Environment Protection of the RK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RK, Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning of the RK, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the RK, Ministry of Agriculture of the RK, Foundation for sustainable development “KAZYNA”, as well as representatives of the UNFCCC Secretariat and experts on carbon financing from the countries participating in the successful carbon trade, such as China and Russia.

The organization of the political dialogue will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Environment Protection of Kazakhstan.

Contact information:
Republic of Kazakhstan, 010000, Astana, office 102, Abay ave. 20
Climate Change Coordination Centre
Tel.:  + 7 7172 717170 /73 /69
Fax:   + 7 7172 324738
?-mail:  info@climate.kz

Additional information:
It is intended as part of this initiative the organization of two meetings in Astana and preparation of two strategic documents to be presented at the second meeting.
The first event is the Roundtable: Building capacity for Effective Voluntary Carbon Financing in Kazakhstan, about it information presented above.
The second event - the Conference on Financing for carbon projects - will be held in Astana, presumably in September 2008. The conference will be aimed at raising awareness and interest in carbon financing of a wider audience, particularly of potential projects applicants. It also will bring together potential buyers and sellers of carbon credits, and will help determination and negotiations on potential carbon projects.

Two strategic document will focus on i) review of existing experience in the development of voluntary carbon projects with specific recommendations for Kazakhstan, and ii) analysis of existing institutional structures in Kazakhstan and development of recommendations for changes needed to promote the development of voluntary carbon projects.