The Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Sunghwan) will hold the “1st Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Cooperation for Implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement” in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on September 12 to expand bilateral cooperation on international greenhouse gas mitigation projects. 

The Joint Committee will be attended by Jeong Eun-hae, Director General of International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, and Saule Sabieva, Director of the Climate Policy Department of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, as well as officials* from both governments and institutions related to international greenhouse gas mitigation projects.

* Composition of the 1st Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee: (Korean side) Ministry of Environment, Korea Environment Corporation, etc.

(Kazakhstan side) Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Industry and Construction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Environmental Corporation, etc.

This Joint Committee is the first meeting held under the “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement between Korea and Kazakhstan,” signed in June last year (2024) by Korea’s Ministry of Environment and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. 

At this meeting, the two countries will share their respective policies for implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and discuss the current progress and future plans of the international greenhouse gas mitigation projects they are pursuing.

Currently, the Ministry of Environment is promoting two international greenhouse gas mitigation projects* in Kazakhstan, which involve capturing methane generated from two landfills, incinerating it, and linking it to power generation. 

* 1) Karasai Landfill Gas Incineration/Power Generation Project; 2) Aktobe Landfill Gas Incineration/Power Generation Project

Through this Joint Committee, the two countries are expected to build a consensus that international greenhouse gas mitigation projects based on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will contribute to achieving both nations’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as well as to addressing Kazakhstan’s environmental issues and promoting sustainable development. 

In addition, the two countries plan to seek ways of cooperation to promptly advance the two international greenhouse gas mitigation projects currently being promoted by the Ministry of Environment, including the Karasai Landfill Gas Incineration and Power Generation Project in Kazakhstan. 

Meanwhile, at this Joint Committee, the two countries will discuss the draft detailed implementation rules, including the procedures for carrying out international greenhouse gas mitigation projects and the operation of the Joint Committee. These rules are expected to be adopted through follow-up consultations. Once adopted, they are anticipated to lay the foundation for accelerating the implementation of international greenhouse gas mitigation projects between the two countries. 

Jeong Eun-hae, Director General of International Cooperation Bureau, stated, “Taking this 1st Joint Committee as an opportunity, we will strengthen support to both help address Kazakhstan’s climate and environmental issues and promote sustainable development through international greenhouse gas mitigation projects, while also enabling Korean climate and environment companies to expand their entry into the Kazakhstani market.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com