Tengrinews.kz - President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the World Climate Action Summit in Baku.
Tengrinews.kz - President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the World Climate Action Summit in Baku.
After the opening of the plenary session, the first speaker was the President of Kazakhstan. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began his speech by reaffirming Kazakhstan’s commitment to the global climate agenda and emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in the fight against climate change. He reminded forum participants of Kazakhstan’s ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
The head of state noted that access to predictable financing and modern technologies is crucial to achieving these goals. He stated that within the framework of the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, special attention should be given to regions most vulnerable to climate change, including developing landlocked countries.
"Although Central Asia accounts for only 1% of global emissions, the region faces numerous climate risks. To improve the effectiveness of climate response measures, we must actively use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, and other digital tools that provide early warning and more effective management of water and land resources," said the President.
Tokayev also emphasized the importance of transitioning to sustainable agriculture. As noted in his speech, Kazakhstan, with 200 million hectares of agricultural land, is an ideal platform for implementing 'carbon farming'—agricultural practices that reduce emissions and improve soil quality. He invited interested parties to explore Kazakhstan’s potential in this sector.
Photo by Akorda press service
"Our country supplies 43 percent of the world’s uranium and plays a significant role in the development of low-carbon nuclear energy. In October this year, the people of Kazakhstan supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in a national referendum. We aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of this project through partnerships with global technology leaders in energy," the head of state noted.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also touched on the issue of global water resources.
"Climate change is already significantly impacting the global water cycle — water-related natural disasters account for more than 80% of natural catastrophes. This year, Kazakhstan faced unprecedented flooding. To ensure rapid response and recovery, we are implementing a risk management system. In December, Kazakhstan will host the One Water Summit in partnership with France to discuss global water issues. The Caspian Sea is under threat, and saving it requires international cooperation. We support President Aliyev's initiative to create an expert group of Caspian countries and are taking steps to preserve the Aral Sea," the President noted.
In conclusion of his speech, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for organizing the summit and for Azerbaijan's successful chairmanship at COP 29. The President reiterated that Kazakhstan is firmly committed to multilateral efforts aimed at establishing a fair, inclusive, and transparent climate agenda, and he reaffirmed the country’s readiness for further cooperation with international partners.
The summit will also feature speeches by leaders from over 80 countries, as well as heads of international and regional organizations.
On November 11, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Baku for a working visit. During the visit, the President of Kazakhstan will hold a series of meetings with heads of state, leaders of international organizations, and business representatives.