BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.18
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
Green Climate Fund (GCF) will ensure that local environment and communities are not impaired or harmed when implementing a project for construction of a new 10 MW solar plant in southern Kazakhstan, a representative of GCF told Trend.
Earlier this year, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and GCF allocated a loan of up to $6.4 million to finance a new 10 MW solar plant in the Zhanakorgan District in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region.
According to the representative, Kazakhstan has been taking steps to ensure climate action for some time now.
“For instance, in 2013, Kazakhstan adopted its Concept of Transition towards Green Economy until 2050. This is a strategic policy highlighting the importance of sustainable and renewable energy development in order to adapt to climate change and address the challenges associated with reducing carbon dependency including in the infrastructure sector,” the official said..
Kazakhstan is also the first country in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region to launch an Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).
“The groundwork for the ETS development was laid out in 2011 through amendments and additions to Kazakhstan’s environmental legislation,” the representative noted.
He also added that GCF is ready to work more closely with Kazakhstan to help them shift to a low-carbon, climate-resilient development path.
In this regard, the new project fits GCF’s work in Kazakhstan. Talking about the effects of the solar park’s construction on the country’s environment, the official noted that projects supported by GCF apply best practice environmental and social safeguards supported by relevant policies of GCF, the accredited entity and the country to ensure that local environment and communities are not impaired or harmed.
“EBRD and GCF environmental and social safeguards will establish the process for identifying, assessing and managing environmental and social risks and impacts associated with renewable energy projects, including solar energy facility. Where environmental and social risks and impacts cannot be avoided, mitigation plans will be required of the project to address and manage those risks and impacts,” the official concluded.
Set up by the 194 countries who are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010, GCF is a global fund created to support the efforts of developing countries to respond to the challenge of climate change.
GCF helps developing countries limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. It seeks to promote a paradigm shift to low-emission and climate-resilient development, taking into account the needs of nations that are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
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