ONLINE – Kazakh national experts and representatives of large industrial installations of the petrochemical industry took part in the webinar on monitoring emissions to learn from the European Union (EU) experience.

The webinar was organised by the EU-funded project “European Union – Central Asia: Water, Environment and Climate Change Cooperation” (WECOOP) in cooperation with AVC Group as part of the EU’s tailor-made support to Central Asia (CA) on environmental governance and capacity building. It aimed to assist Kazakhstan in improving its emissions monitoring system.  

Over the period from 1990 to 2017, the EU succeeded to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the chemical industry by more than 2.5 times (from 325 million tons to 135 million tons, respectively). The EU Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU, adopted in 2010, provides a framework for regulating about 55 000 (agro) industrial installations across the EU. An installation whose operation falls within the scope of the Directive requires a permit which is to be based on Best Available Techniques (BAT) documents. BAT conclusions aim at achieving a high level of protection of the environment as a whole, taking into account the economic and technical viability.

In line with the new European Green Deal, the EU is committed to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050, as well as provide financial and technical assistance to international partners, including to the CA countries. The EU Green Deal’s one important goal is also to significantly reduce emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. During the webinar, participants discussed assessment methodology, data processing and reporting on emissions of pollutants, European and international legislation and experience, as well as BAT in monitoring industrial emissions.

Dr Vladislav Bizek, WECOOP Key Expert: «The Paris Agreement, the 5th anniversary of which we celebrate tomorrow, on 12 December, aims to contain the rise of global average temperature well below 2°C. Meanwhile, the rate of temperature rise in Central Asia exceeds the world average, and the negative impact of climate change is stronger here. The chemical industry is a major source of emissions not only of greenhouse gases, but also of air pollutants – dust, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, organic substances and heavy metals. It is very important to effectively and timely monitor and implement green technologies to reduce emissions. Building on the EU experience, the WECOOP project seeks to support CA countries in improving existing national legislation, emission control, and capacity building of national experts».

Background: The EU-funded project “European Union – Central Asia Water, Environment and Climate Change Cooperation” (WECOOP) (third phase from October 2019 to October 2022) aims to enhance environment, climate change and water policies at national levels in Central Asia through approximation to EU standards and to promote investments in relevant sectors with the aim of contributing to measurable reductions in man-made pollution, including CO₂ emission. The project activities include support to the EU–CA Platform for Environment and Water Cooperation and its Working Group on Environment and Climate Change, as well as implementation of the EU Green Deal’s international dimension in Central Asia to advance climate action.

For additional information, please contact:

Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova
WECOOP Senior Communication Expert
email: media@wecoop.eu
mobile/WhatsApp +77019814020

Ms Nurgul Smagulova
WECOOP Event and Communication Officer
email: nurgul.smagulova@wecoop.eu
mobile/WhatsApp +77012066760

Ms Yerkezhan Amriyeva
Political, Press and Information Section
EU Delegation to Kazakhstan
email: yerkezhan.amriyeva@eeas.europa.eu

WEBINAR MATERIALS: https://wecoop.eu/events/webinar-monitoring-emissions-in-chemical-industry/