Holding EXPO-2017 of great importance for Kazakhstan - International Business University researchers S. Diyar and A.Toktabaev
This idea has been developed by the scientists of the International Business University, the Associate Professor S. Diyar and Professor A. Toktabaev.in the article published in "Business Kazakhstan" newspaper under the title "Green economy" - a new way of development".
Initially, the authors note that the "green" economy is a new direction of economic science, having been worked out in recent years, including a large number of versions. The most succinct, concise and precise, in their opinion, is the definition given by UNEP: "Green" is an economy which leads to increased well-being and social justice, while substantially reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcity of resources. " But in this definition there is no concept of "sustainable development", a concept which was adopted at the World Summit of Heads of State and Government in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro.
The authors believe that the creation of a "green" economy without creating at the same time of "sustainable development" in the region, in the country, in the inter-state space is inefficient and probably impossible.
It is noted that "Rio +20" Summit was aimed not only to reduce carbon and other emissions. It helped to identify a new path of evolution, one that will ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and an effective economy. In the business environment the concept of "green economy" is at the height of attention. Financial funds, venture capitalists, governments of advanced countries, businesses and consumers are already building a "green" economy.
Clean technology market is shown in a wide range of goods, services and processes that provide superior performance at lower costs, while significantly reducing or eliminating the negative impact on the environment, more efficient and responsible use of natural resources. The global market for "green" products and services is 546 billion dollars. There is prediction of the size of the market-friendly technologies equal to $ 2 trillion by 2020.
In Kazakhstan, there is a clear understanding of the country's leadership that the promotion of "green economy" is the main way and the only way to maintain sustainability. Moreover, Kazakhstan has happened to historically have large environmental problems, which are not faced by other states. In particular, it is about the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, which was closed as a result of the people's movement called "Nevada-Semipalatinsk" by the Decree of President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Consequences of hundreds of nuclear tests have affected up to now. In addition, there is a huge amount of industrial waste, more than 23 billion tons. Of these, about 9 billion tons are man-made mineral formations that we had "inherited" from the industrial activities of the Soviet time, and that, too, need to do something about. There is also the problem of water, as Kazakhstan is dependent on trans-boundary water resources. Therefore, to develop the "green economy" is a must not only to prevent future environmental changes. This is not an idea for an idea, but a specific response plan, and there is probably no other way to escape from this kind of problem. After all, the main purpose of "green economy" is to increase the well-being and quality of life.
The scientists also point out that the model of the National Sustainable Development Strategy of Kazakhstan establishes conditions for realizing "Kazakhstan-2050" long-term strategy proposed by the Head of state in his address in December 2012. This strategy is notable for its comprehensive approach to solving economic problems, where tied up in one ball a whole set of processes of forced material potential buildup and improving the quality of life of Kazakhstan. Strong support for model development of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development will be "Green Bridge" program It has been designed to meet the needs of the regional integration processes in the field of environment and progress, coordinated by ESCAP and UNECE, and was nominated as the Astana initiative at the 6th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific. "Green Bridge" tools are the projects called upon to create the conditions and infrastructure to improve access to "green" technology and investment.
A good addition to "Green Bridge" program is the Global Energy and Ecological Strategy providing a scientific approach and calculations of the energy welfare of all countries and regions, without hurting globally significant ecosystems and without human influence on climate change. In "Green Bridge" partnership program there is no country being a donor or a recipient. The process is in two directions: one way are clean "green" technologies, the other way are products produced with "green" technologies, so called "green" ones. The scope of the program is quite extensive: three quarter of the world's population, more than 1 billion of the poor, almost 90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, critical ecosystems, and energy and natural resources.
The article stresses the fact that the great value for a new way of development of Kazakhstan has the venue chosen for "EXPO-2017" International specialized exhibition made on November 22, 2012 by secret ballot at the 152nd General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau in Paris.
The potential of renewable energy and natural gas in Kazakhstan is very high. For example, our country may set a target of electricity from natural gas by 2030 as 20 percent, in 2050 - 40 percent. Balance proven gas reserves in Kazakhstan are 3.5 trillion cubic meters, which puts the country in the top ten according to this world indicator. Potential energy savings in the stages of production and transportation make up to 40 percent, in the consumption sector up to 50-60 per cent. The potential of renewable energy sources is also very high - water, sun and wind.
Fair Ground is included into the long-term plan of the capital, and there is already a vision of how it will be used after the exhibition. It is assumed that the EXPO 2017 will bring together around 100 countries and 10 international organizations. According to optimistic forecasts, the attendance of the exhibition will be 5 million visitors for the duration of the event.