On November 6-8, 2023, the Kazakh British Technical University (KBTU) together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) hosted the 3rd Almaty Energy Forum. The Forum aimed to foster a multistakeholder dialogue to facilitate regional cooperation, provide technical capacity support and help countries in Central Asia innovate and modernize its regional infrastructure and build resilient energy systems that are secure, affordable and deliver on net-zero targets.

The forum sessions involved various thematic sessions and panel discussions on the energy connectivity in Central Asia, renewable energy policies and methane management. From Nazarbayev University, Associate Professors of the Graduate School of Public Policy, Serik Orazgaliyev and Murodbek Laldjebaev attended this event. Of particular interest were the discussions on the critical raw materials and renewable energy which relate to the theme of the ongoing research project under Sustainable Energy Transition Program implemented by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Kazakhstan (SDSN) at GSPP.

Additionally, GSPP Professors participated at the meeting of the Central Asian Academic Network for a Future-Ready Energy Transition – a collaborative network of 9 universities in Central Asia, converging on the multifaceted themes of low- and zero-carbon technologies, mineral extraction, and energy efficiency, all aimed at strategically advancing and securing a net-zero future by 2050. The NU Professors shared opportunities for partnership with SDSN Kazakhstan which currently comprises a wide network of 25 members including universities and knowledge institutions across the country that promote SDGs through education, research, and policy analysis.

Officially launched in June 2022 under the umbrella of the global SDSN, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Kazakhstan is a part of the global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012 to mobilize expertise and resources from academia, civil society, the private sector, and government to promote sustainable development. Kazakhstan’s office is hosted at the Graduate School of Public Policy in Nazarbayev University (NU GSPP), which also promotes the SDGs and the principles of sustainable development in its educational endeavors. SDSN Membership is free and open to any university, research institute, research- and science-oriented civil society organizations and foundations, and other institutions that have deep expertise in one or more areas related to sustainable development.

For more information about SDSN Kazakhstan and collaboration opportunities, please contact sdsn@nu.edu.kz.