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DE RUEHTA #2139/01 3440338
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O 100338Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6977
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2236
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES/PCI, IO, EUR/RPM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SENV OSCE UN KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  ASTANA TO HOST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 
MINISTERIAL IN 2010 
 
ASTANA 00002139  001.3 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The Kazakhstani Ministry of Environment hosted the 
Advisory Council Meeting on Preparation for the Ministerial 
Conference on Environment and Development (MCED) to be held in 
Astana in 2010.  The MCED is held every five years, and the next 
Ministerial theme will be to adopt "green growth" as the region's 
key strategy.  This MCED will be the first one held in Central Asia. 
 The key issues will be bridging Asia and Europe, trans-boundary 
water issues, climate change adaptation, resilient development, and 
a green environment as central to economic development.  One idea 
will be to regard Kazakhstan's status in Central Asia as a "bridge" 
between Central Asia and Europe.  The Italian Ambassador 
(representing the European Union) said water management is a vital 
challenge, and Europe will attempt to improve water resource 
management and encourage regional cooperation.  The business sector 
said "business as usual" is no longer possible.  The government must 
provide adequate incentives to the business community to increase 
its "greenness."  Such a policy could reduce poverty by providing 
green jobs, reduce overall environmental degradation, help 
businesses adapt to the effects of climate change, and ensure 
sufficient resources for long-term economic growth.  END SUMMARY. 
 
ASTANA TO HOST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MINISTERIAL IN 2010 
 
¶2.  The Kazakhstani Ministry of Environment, along with the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the 
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the 
Pacific (ESCAP), and the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center 
(CAREC) hosted on November 24 the Advisory Council Meeting on 
Preparation for the Ministerial Conference on Environment and 
Development (MCED) to be held in Astana in 2010.  The Minister of 
Environment's Executive Secretary, Anatoliy Dernovoy, introduced the 
conference, saying that the 2010 OSCE Chairmanship is especially 
important for Kazakhstan and for the environmental portion of 
Kazakhstan's responsibilities as the Chair.  Kazakhstan hopes to use 
its geopolitical position in Central Asia to further the resolution 
of several problems, including transportation, tourism, and the 
environment. 
 
¶3.  Held every five years, beginning in 1985, the MCED allows all 62 
member countries to review the status of their environmental 
development and consider joint cooperation in priority areas.  In 
1985, the MCED focused on human development; in 1990, the 
ministerial prepared input for the 1992 Rio Earth Summit; 1995 
focused on a sustainable development model for Asia and the Pacific; 
and the theme for 2000 was "moving from capacity to concrete 
actions."  This next Ministerial theme will be to adopt "green 
growth" as the region's key strategy, ensuring environmental 
sustainability while maintaining economic growth. 
 
¶4.  According to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for 
Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Masakasu Ichimura, the big difference 
between Asia and Europe is poverty.  Therefore, Asian countries must 
find the proper balance between the environment and economic 
development.  Asia faces the challenges of poverty, access to 
resources, and financial help.  Astana's MCED will focus on the 
environment and development, and the fundamental needs for 
furthering green growth along the direction set in the previous 
MCED. 
 
¶5.  As the first Ministerial Conference to be held in Central Asia, 
it is a tribute to Kazakhstan's leading role in the region.  The key 
issues for the Ministerial will be to bridge Asia and Europe and 
address trans-boundary water issues, climate change adaptation, 
resilient development, and the centrality of a green environment to 
economic development.  The Ministerial format will consist of two to 
three days of meetings for senior officials, one or two days for 
ministers, and side events.  The tentative dates are September 
27-October 3, 2010, in Astana. 
 
¶6.  According to Ichimura, the final Ministerial statement will 
include a 2010 regional report on sustainable development, a review 
of the implementation of sustainable development plans and programs 
 
ASTANA 00002139  002.3 OF 003 
 
 
in the Asia Pacific region, a thematic paper (to be determined), a 
ministerial declaration, an action plan for subsequent years, and a 
set of key initiatives in all priority areas. 
 
KAZAKHSTAN IS THE "BRIDGE" BETWEEN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA 
 
¶7.  Central Asian Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) Director 
Talaybek Makaev said the major priorities for the upcoming MCED 
include a coordinated management plan for water resources in Central 
Asia, adaptation to climate change, and sustainable energy 
development.  He added that one important theme is to regard 
Kazakhstan in Central Asia as the "bridge" between Central Asia and 
Europe.  Civil society, businesses, governments, diplomatic 
missions, international and regional organizations, the scientific 
community, and the press will participate in MCED.  CAREC aims to 
clarify the notion of a "green economy" and disseminate that idea to 
the general population. 
 
¶8.  According to Makaev, CAREC will form an expert group to prepare 
for Astana 2010, coordinate the preparation of ministerial 
documents, set up a website as an "information platform," have press 
conferences, place ads in the media, and hold forums to exchange 
ideas.  It will also carry out regional projects, such as the 
insulation of older buildings or reduction of pollution to 
demonstrate the idea of a green economy. 
 
¶9.  Italian Ambassador Bruno Pasquino, representing the European 
Union, said that coordinated development between regions is the key 
to good governance.  The Asia-Pacific region and Europe need to join 
forces to combat climate change, in part because Central Asia is 
particularly vulnerable to its consequences.  Europe can assist in 
policy-making, implementation, development of clean energy and 
emission-control technology, energy efficiency, and renewable 
energy.  Water management is a vital challenge, he asserted, and 
Europe will attempt to improve water-management and encourage 
regional cooperation.  He mentioned that Europe will establish a 
European-Central Asian working group on climate change and 
environmental governance. 
 
¶10.  OSCE Economy and Environment Director Terry Holland also 
stressed the importance of environmental security, noting the 
trans-boundary character and global impact of environmental 
problems.  Resolution of water-resource management in Central Asia 
is vital to ensure regional stability.  He added that Kazakhstan 
today serves as a bridge between Europe and Central Asia, because 
Kazakhstan will assume the 2010 OSCE chairmanship.  This position 
will give Kazakhstan a great opportunity to achieve many important 
goals. 
 
BUSINESS SECTOR SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF "GREEN BUSINESS" 
 
¶11.  ESCAP Department of Environmental Policy and Development Aneta 
Nikolova said "business as usual" is simply no longer possible. 
Economic development faces limitations, including climate change, 
environmental pollution, and a shortage of resources.  Several good 
ideas and initiatives on sustainable development exist, she 
asserted, but methods to support them with targeted policies remain 
unclear.  Because the current ecological footprint of modern 
economies exceeds the earth's bio-capacity, she stated that 
"business as usual" is just a bad idea. 
 
¶12.  According to Nikolova, a green economy is the wave of the 
future.  The government and public sector must support the goals of 
renewable energy by providing adequate incentives to the business 
community.  Green business can include not only sustainable 
development, but also eco-tourism and the "greening" of the private 
sector (e.g., more energy efficient buildings, less energy 
consumption, less pollution, etc.).  The overall objective is to 
attain "eco-efficiency" along with profitability.  The government 
should support "green business," because they will reduce poverty by 
providing green jobs, decrease overall environmental degradation, 
help businesses adapt to the effects of climate change, and ensure 
 
ASTANA 00002139  003.3 OF 003 
 
 
sufficient resources for long-term economic growth.  She said 
government subsidies to make buildings more green (e.g., better 
insulated, less energy intense, etc.), eco-labeling of products, and 
micro loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises can also help 
promote green business.  She proposed a Green Business Exhibition as 
a side event at the Astana 2010 MCED. 
 
¶13.  COMMENT:  Astana's hosting of the next MCED in 2010 is 
important, not only because it is the first time for Central Asia, 
but also because it highlights UN, OSCE, and European thoughts on 
Kazakhstan's rising status and leading role in Central Asia.  Set to 
coincide with Kazakhstan's 2010 Chairmanship of the OSCE, it 
burnishes Kazakhstan's image as a country that actively promotes 
sustainable development.  Although Kazakhstan's political will in 
this area is clear, its Soviet legacy often hampers its efforts.  A 
member of the MCED, the United States will most likely send a 
delegation to Astana.  END COMMENT. 
 
HOAGLAND