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The Town of the XXI Century
Series of reports on ecological situation in Central Asia

Kazakhstan: dimensions of sustainable development

TEN YEARS LATER

Taking part in the Earth Summit in 1992 Kazakhstan assumed responsibilities for including sustainable development principles into political and economic reforms implemented in the country. What can be attributed to positive developments?

First of all, Kazakhstan became the first country on the planet which consciously decided to disband its nuclear arsenal.

Second, Kazakhstan initiated series of measures aimed at ensuring regional security and stability in Central Asia, CIS and Eurasia. Kazakhstan is an active participant of various regional organizations and unions – Commonwealth of Independent States, European and Asian Economic Cooperation organizations, Shanghai Organization for Cooperation, Council for Cooperation and Security Measures in Asia.

Third, Kazakhstan adopted key documents – Rio-de-Janeiro Declaration and The XXI Century Agenda (UN World Conference on Environment and Development, Rio-de-Janeiro, 1992). Kazakhstan’s delegation headed by the country’s President, Mr. Nazarbaev, took part in “Rio + 5” - UN General Assembly special session in 1997, aimed at carrying out the first global assessment of progress towards implementation of ‘The XXI Century Agenda” and sustainable development principles.

Fourth, in 1997 Kazakhstan adopted a long-term national development strategy until 2030. Among key strategic objectives the document envisions that within next 30 years Kazakhstan will increase standards of living, improve its environmental conditions and preserve natural resources for future generations.
Fifth, Kazakhstan assumed responsibilities related to biodiversity preservation, combating expansion of deserts, climate change prevention and ozone layer protection. Kazakhstan also signed International Labor Organization conventions and European Charter on children’s rights, status of refugees, women’s movement and sustainable development issues.

Sixth, Kazakhstan has developed a national action plan on environmental protection for sustainable development as well as series of nation-wide social welfare programs. Currently Ministry of Ecology and UNDP are implementing a joint program entitled “Institutional capacity building for sustainable development”. Kazakhstan is taking part in developing Central Asian regional environmental protection action plan. In 2000 Central Asian Regional Ecological Center was established in Almaty. Kazakhstan participates in development of the Framework Convention on Caspian Sea preservation and ecological strategy for Eastern Europe, Caucuses and Central Asia.

Combating Poverty
In 1997-1998 more than 43% of the country’s population were qualified as “poor”, which means that combating poverty is among government’s key objectives. To this end, Kazakhstan has implemented a pension reform and adopted 2000-2002 National poverty and unemployment reduction program. Special reform projects were carried out in the social, educational and health care sectors. Undertaken efforts have allowed to reduce the number of people leaving below the poverty line. However, official government statistics indicate that an incredibly high proportion of the population - more than 29% - still live below the poverty line. To address the issue, Government of Kazakhstan in cooperation with Asian Development Bank and UNDP developed 2003-2005 State poverty reduction program. The document calls for targeted financial assistance to the lowest income families, employment facilitation efforts, increased accessibility of education and health care, small business loans and micro credits.

Potable Water Use

As a result of clear potable water deficit every second citizen of Kazakhstan has to drink water which fails to meet sanitary and hygiene requirements. One third of the population uses unfiltered water and 500 thousand people live under the constant pressure of water deficit. Poor quality and lack of water result in rapid spread of infectious diseases, development of various kidney, bladder and heart diseases. Industrial and household wastes dumped into bodies of water further stimulate development of a wide range of health problems. The nature itself is no longer capable of absorbing and cleaning wastes, while no adequate funding is available to install water cleaning facilities and replace outdated systems.

Kazakhstan has developed “National water resources protection and utilization program until 2005” and adopted “Water sector development and water utilization policy concept until 2010”, as well as “2002-2010 Drinkable water program”. Average citizens can only hope that all of these programs will to a certain extent help to improve potable water supply issues. So far, however, no progress in the sphere has been detected.

Unfortunately, in Kazakhstan water supply issues go far beyond purely internal concerns. Central Asian states are closely linked by shared river basins of Amudariya and Syrdariya, as well as Aral Sea tragedy. Excessive consumption of Amudariya river waters by farmers in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan leads to dehydration of this primary Aral Sea water supply route long before it reaches the seabed. Consequently, the sea level has decreased drastically and currently the sea is dangerously close to complete extinction.

Countries of the region should develop a common water and energy utilization strategy. Interstate water and energy consortium has been established to address this need giving some hope that the neighbors will come to an agreement. On a different front Kazakhstan continues to define its water relations with China. Also, the country has to increase effectiveness of water utilization, primarily, in agricultural projects.

Biological Diversity

In Kazakhstan one can find more than six thousand types of plants, five thousand types of mushrooms, more than two thousand types of sea weed, 800 types of animals, 500 types of birds, 100 types of fish and many other living organisms. Kazakhstan’s Red Book of Endangered Species currently contains 400 types of plants, more than 225 types of animals and 85 types of insects. However, there are many others requiring careful and thoughtful attitude.

Animals and plants disappear as a result of changes in their natural habitats. Very often changes take place following human actions related to construction, destruction, dehydration and conquest of nature in an attempt to create more comfortable living conditions for human beings.

In 1994 Kazakhstan ratified Biological Diversity Convention. In 1999 the country designed National strategy and Action plan aimed at preservation and balanced utilization of biological diversity. State Ecological Foundation and UNDP implement international projects preserving biological diversity, but this is only a small part of the enormous work that needs to be done.

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