Kazakhstan - Strengthening SLCP Mitigation Capacity in Kazakhstan

Rationale

This project responds to a formal request from the Republic of Kazakhstan to strengthen institutional capacity for integrating short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) mitigation into national climate planning, particularly in preparation for the 2025 update of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Kazakhstan joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) at the end of 2023 and has demonstrated its commitment to reducing methane emissions by participating in the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to cut global methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels.

Despite this progress, Kazakhstan’s current climate commitments do not yet include dedicated SLCP targets. The country faces critical challenges in this area, including limited modeling capacity for SLCP mitigation, significant data gaps, and underdeveloped institutional frameworks to support SLCP-related policy development. These limitations hinder Kazakhstan’s ability to integrate SLCP action into its revised NDC and its broader Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2060.

In support of its national climate goals, Kazakhstan has also sought assistance from development partners such as UNDP and the NDC Partnership. However, these efforts focus on complementary areas—such as energy modeling and forestry—leaving a clear gap in SLCP-related support. In response, Kazakhstan has requested technical assistance from the CCAC to fill this critical need.

Therefore, this project aims to provide targeted support to enhance SLCP data collection, analytics, and modeling capabilities, and to ensure that SLCP mitigation strategies are effectively incorporated into the 2025 NDC update. The results of this work will contribute directly to Kazakhstan’s revised NDC and be showcased at COP29. In addition, the project will deliver policy recommendations that identify existing gaps and propose concrete actions, including financing options, to strengthen the country’s long-term capacity for SLCP mitigation.

Objectives

• To support the Government of Kazakhstan in integrating priority short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) mitigation actions and/or targets into its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by the end of 2025.

• To ensure that Kazakhstan’s revised NDC reflects clear, actionable, and ambitious SLCP mitigation measures that are aligned with international climate goals and complement the country’s broader climate strategy.

• To enhance the coherence between SLCP mitigation and Kazakhstan’s national policy framework, strengthening the foundation for effective cross-sectoral climate action.

• To improve the integration of SLCP-related priorities into Kazakhstan’s national research and development agenda by fostering coordination between government ministries and national research institutions.

• To support the identification and inclusion of SLCP mitigation themes in annual strategic research priorities and national research funding streams.

• To promote the generation of actionable, high-quality knowledge products that inform policy design, stimulate innovation, and enable evidence-based planning and implementation of SLCP mitigation strategies.

Activities

To achieve these objectives, the project will:

• Conduct a thorough review of Kazakhstan’s existing national policy, planning, and implementation frameworks related to short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), supported by detailed analysis and targeted recommendations.

• Compile a dedicated SLCP section for inclusion in the draft of Kazakhstan’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), outlining the current context, potential ambition, and proposed pathways for reducing SLCP emissions.

• Identify and document ongoing and completed national projects that demonstrate innovative and research-driven approaches in the field of SLCP mitigation and climate change.

• Prepare a comprehensive report outlining national research priorities and key research projects that support SLCP mitigation and broader climate change goals, with a view toward strengthening Kazakhstan’s scientific and policy-making capabilities.

Project Reference: [KZ-24-001T] Strengthening SLCP Mitigation Capacity in Kazakhstan