Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: KazEnergy’s top-line messaging on drastic action to combat climate change appears to misaligned with the recommendations of the IPCC. While the organization appears to have limited engagement with climate-related regulation, and appears to it advocates for a sustained role for fossil fuels in the energy mix, including coal, oil and fossil gas.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: KazEnergy’s top-line communications do not appear to support drastic action in line with the IPCC. In its National Energy Report 2023, published October 2023, it supported the need for government regulation to respond to climate change. However, in the same report appeared unsupportive of drastic emissions reduction, placing emphasis on technological feasibility and economic viability of emissions reductions as opposed to the IPCC demanded response and supporting a delayed carbon neutrality target of 2060. KazEnergy’s position on the Paris Agreement appears unclear.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: KazEnergy appears to have limited recent engagement with climate related regulations, but has communicated support for policies including emissions trading. In its National Energy Report 2023, the organization supported Kazakhstan’s emissions trading system (ETS), suggesting ways to increase its effectiveness including decreasing the overall cap on emissions allowances over time.
Positioning on Energy Transition: KazEnergy advocates for a continued role for fossil fuels in the energy mix, including coal, oil and fossil gas. In its National Energy Report 2023, KazEnergy appeared to advocate a continued role for fossil gas without placing clear conditions on the need for CCS or methane emission abatement and in the same report, the organization appeared to advocate a continued role of coal referencing the deployment of CCUS to reduce emissions in extraction and production processes.