On April 26, 2018 the first draft of legislative amendments to the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was submitted in Astana which is aimed at creating a modern system of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in the country corresponding to international standards, namely the Protocol on SEA of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

SEA is an effective tool used at the state planning stage and designed to take into account environmental factors in the development and approval of strategic government documents (government plans, programs, strategies, concepts, etc.). SEA helps prevent an irreversible negative impact on the environment and human health in advance. In particular basing on the results of SEA the developers of government programs receive specific proposals that take into account not only economic but also environmental aspects.

The first text of a new chapter of the Environmental Code on SEA, developed by national and international experts, was discussed at an expert meeting under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, UNECE and OSCE (April 26, 2018). The discussion was attended by experts from relevant government bodies, international consultants from UNECE and the OSCE, national experts and the general public. The proposals and comments will be taken into account in the future work of the experts and submitted for further consideration in the autumn of 2018 and approval in 2019.

The day before, on April 25, 2018, the working group positively assessed the concept of a comprehensive reform of the regulatory framework for environmental impact assessment (EIA) in Kazakhstan, involving the introduction of an entirely new, modern EIA system that meets international standards and the requirements of the Espoo Convention. On this basis the convention recommended that this concept to be sent to the consideration and agreement of the Working Group on the Revision of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

It should be reminded that work on improving the legislation in the field of SEA and EIA is carried out at the initiative of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is implemented with the financial support of the joint project of the EU / UNDP / UNECE "Support to the transition of Kazakhstan to a green economy model", the Office of the OSCE in Astana and the Government of Switzerland.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/cerc/press/news/details/28985?lang=kk