Astrid Klug, Parliamentary State Secretary with the Federal Environment Ministry held talks today in Astana with Environment Minister Nurlan Iskakov and Bolat Akschulakov, Vice-Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. Both sides agreed to clearly expand cooperation between Germany and Kazakhstan in the field of environmental and climate protection. Ms Klug said: "Kazakhstan is becoming an increasingly important partner for us in environmental and climate issues. I am glad that we can implement joint projects here which will promote a switch towards higher efficiency in the energy sector and a larger share of CO2-free energy sources".
Within the framework of the Federal Environment Ministry’s international climate protection initiative, initial projects are to be launched in Kazakhstan in the near future, inter alia an initiative of the German-Kazakh University in Almaty geared towards highlighting energy saving options in buildings and possibilities for renewable energies in Central Asia.
Another plan is to launch a project together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Loans will be the basis for investments in increasing energy efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises and for the expansion of renewable energies.
During her visit in Astana, which took place within the framework of Federal President Horst Köhler’s state visit, Astrid Klug agreed with Kazakh Environment Minister Nurlan Iskakov to intensify cooperation in the field of climate protection and environment technology transfer. This endeavour is based on a "joint declaration on intensifying cooperation in the field of environmental protection” which was signed in Berlin in January 2007 during the state visit of President Nursultan Nasarbayev.