Building Low-Carbon Futures: UCA Partners with Green Academy of Kazakhstan

Professor Christopher Gerry, Rector of UCA, participated in a seminar titled “COP-29: Outcome and Recommendations for Kazakhstan” held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event was organised by Green Academy, a government-affiliated research think tank and education centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and supported by UCA and the SIPA/IDDRI project, a programme by the OECD that helps countries in Central and Southeast Asia invest in infrastructure that is low-emission and resilient.

Professor Gerry served as a panel speaker, highlighting UCA’s significant contributions to decarbonisation efforts in Central Asia. The seminar, attended by public servants, academics, and students, explored the outcomes of the COP-29 Climate Change Conference held in Baku in December. Discussions centred on proposals for implementing Kazakhstan's Carbon Neutrality Strategy.

A key highlight of the seminar was the announcement of a partnership between UCA and Green Academy to promote Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which provides a framework for international cooperation on climate change. The initiative calls for collaboration with both domestic and international organisations to advance climate action in Central Asia.

UCA played an active role in the COP-29 Conference, hosting a side event titled "Potential and Priorities for the Formation of Low-Carbon Infrastructure in Central Asia" at the Kazakhstan National Pavilion. The session, co-organised with Green Academy, emphasised the region's potential for sustainable development.

During his visit to Kazakhstan, Professor Gerry also held meetings with the International Centre for Green Technologies and Investment Projects, as well as the Astana International Financial Centre, to explore opportunities for collaboration on green initiatives.