How the UK is supporting Kazakhstan’s clean energy transition
The UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach delivered a briefing, highlighting the UK's milestone in fully phasing out coal-powered energy as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability. In addition, the Ambassador outlined the UK's support for Kazakhstan’s environmental efforts, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The end of Britain’s coal era
Leach highlighted the UK's significant progress in phasing out coal, a process that has been a key part of the country’s green transition over the past 15 to 20 years. Although 40% of the UK's electricity still came from coal as recently as 2012, the final coal-fired power station was closed on September 30.
The UK is now working toward its commitment to achieving zero-emissions electricity by 2030, though decarbonizing other sectors, such as transport and domestic heating, will take more time.
Leach emphasized the UK's commitment to demonstrating climate leadership both domestically and internationally. Domestically, the UK has launched a new energy development bank to support the green transition.
Internationally, the UK is focused on helping countries like Kazakhstan with energy policy reform and nature conservation. At the upcoming COP29 in Baku, the UK plans to introduce a "Global Clean Power Alliance," aiming to unite developed and developing countries to share best practices, policies, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
UK support for Kazakhstan
Leach outlined several UK-led initiatives designed to support Kazakhstan’s journey toward sustainable energy. A significant part of this support comes through the newly announced Central Asia Climate, Energy, and Water Program, a nearly £20 million commitment over five years. This program, in collaboration with the World Bank and GIZ (the German development agency), is focused on addressing interlinked challenges in energy and water across Central Asia, including Kazakhstan.
One of the main goals of the program is to promote regional collaboration in sustainable energy solutions, such as developing a joint electricity grid that could enhance energy security across Central Asia. Hydropower projects such as the Kambarata Dam in Kyrgyzstan and the Rogun Dam in Tajikistan are capable of producing clean electricity that could be supplied to Kazakhstan. In return, Kazakhstan could supply these countries with energy during the winter months, when hydroelectric power stations may not be working so well.
In addition to infrastructure, the UK aims to bolster Kazakhstan’s green transition by sharing best practices in policy and technology. This involves not only financial support but also providing expertise through a facility called CONNEX, which assists Central Asian countries in negotiating beneficial commercial deals related to energy and water.
Moreover, Kazakhstan’s environmental NGOs will receive small grants.
“We also want to support the environmental NGO community across Kazakhstan, again, working together, sharing ideas. And so later next year we'll be launching some small grant funding for local NGOs to apply,” notes the UK ambassador.
Leach also highlighted the importance of regenerative agriculture for adapting to drier climate conditions. This approach focuses on reducing water usage and preserving soil health by altering traditional farming practices. For instance, no-till planting, where seeds are sown directly into unplowed land covered with plants, helps retain soil moisture and supports sustainable land use.
Kazakhstan's biodiversity initiatives
The Ambassador also highlighted Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala Initiative as a conservation success, which has increased the Saiga antelope population from tens of thousands to nearly 2 million over 15 years.
Additionally, Leach noted that Kazakhstan has reintroduced species like the Przewalski’s horse and the Kulan and is working to protect migratory birds, including the steppe eagle, along the Great Asian flyway. This important migratory route supports species such as the steppe eagle, which depend on Kazakhstan’s habitats for part of the year before migrating to regions as distant as Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and even Africa.
Kazakhstan's path to sustainability
As Kazakhstan progresses on its environmental commitments, the UK Ambassador emphasized key steps to enhance biodiversity and climate targets.
A top priority is the adoption of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, updating Kazakhstan’s outdated 1999 version. The UK, along with UNDP and ACBK, encourages Kazakhstan’s government to approve this plan to unlock additional support for biodiversity efforts.
In addition, the Ambassador discussed the importance of Kazakhstan strengthening its climate commitments, particularly its nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Kazakhstan aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 15% by 2030, or up to 25% with international support. Coal and methane reduction are central to these targets.
“Coal and methane are key issues. It was great that Kazakhstan joined the Global Methane Pledge at COP28 last year, a U.S. and EU initiative aiming to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Now, we hope to see this commitment reflected in Kazakhstan’s NDCs,” says the UK ambassador to Kazakhstan.
Leach noted that Kazakhstan is also progressing within the High Ambition Coalition to protect 30% of its land by 2030, already safeguarding about 10% with potential for further areas to become protected.
