IndexIntroductionContextSamplesConcernsThe risks of global warming are real. Countries such as the United States, China and other governments must implement measures to limit emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Coal has been running wheels and heating homes for centuries; however, it has had devastating effects on global warming and climate change. In mitigating climate change, coal stands out as a major target due to its high CO2 emissions per unit of thermal energy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Ending coal, needed to keep global warming below 2 degrees, is on the agenda of world leaders. Kazakhstan, like many other developed and developing countries, has signed and ratified the Paris Agreement. However, Kazakhstan signs protocols and agreements more for the international reputation of the state than to seriously implement these obligations. This essay will argue that Kazakhstan's intentions and actions will be determined by domestic politics rather than solidarity with the international community or any desire to address climate change concerns. Introduction Coal phasing out involves several policies: the closure of coal mines, the exit from coal-electricity generation, government-led coal disinvestment, and the removal of government subsidies to the industry, as well as public financing of coal both both nationally and abroad. These policies can be rapid or gradual and are sometimes part of much broader developments in the energy sector, including, for example, the transition from a planned to a market-based economy. To reach the path compatible with the Paris Agreement, global emissions from coal must fall by around three-quarters, from almost 10 GtCO2 per year in 2020 to around 2.5 GtCO2 per year in 2030. This target can be achieved only with the early retirement of operating power plants, so there is no motivation to support the construction of new coal-fired power plants. Building new coal plants would be completely inconsistent with any development in line with achieving the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, OECD and EU countries must phase out coal by 2030. China is expected to phase out coal around 2040, and the rest of the world by 2050. Despite the legitimate concerns about air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the use of coal continues to be significant. By 2017, for example, coal will provide a third of all energy used globally and account for 40% of electricity generation, as well as playing a crucial role in sectors such as iron and steel. Many countries are not yet willing to commit to total elimination. A number of developing countries in Asia are still trying to build new coal plants to bring electricity to those who don't have it. According to the Paris Agreement, each country has its own goals for gradually reducing CO2 emissions. This essay highlights the path of the country signing international agreements without any intention of achieving its preliminary objectives. Kazakhstan is a signatory to the Paris Agreement for purely diplomatic positioning. This means that the country's climate commitment is at best less stringent than what would be a fair share of the global effort and is not consistent with theParis Agreement's 1.5°C limit, unless other countries make much deeper reductions and comparatively greater efforts. I argue that a major change in energy policy such as phasing out coal requires, at a minimum, the following conditions: there must be adequate evidence to demonstrate the harm caused by CO2 emissions; there must be a high level of evidence-driven awareness; Elected leaders must be accountable to voters in principle and practice. The elected representative must have a significant role in generating the political reform agenda. There must be diversity of stable energy sources. The following diagram represents the ideal conditions for energy reform in Kazakhstan. This document demonstrates that these conditions do not exist in Kazakhstan. I will compare the Kazakh approach with that of Ontario, Canada, to support the main thesis of the essay. Ontario's coal phase-out reform was examined in the IISD report. The case of Kazakhstan has been studied primarily because the country has a domestic and foreign policy framework similar to that of any other Central Asian country. Therefore, Kazakhstan's political approach is representative of regional geopolitics. The success of Ontario's energy reform. Ontario's coal phaseout has become the largest greenhouse gas reduction measure in North America. Ontario was able to exceed its 2014 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6% below the 1990 level. It is critical to examine Ontario's context and conditions that led to the successful implementation of greenhouse gas reform phasing out coal. I find it useful to study Ontario's experience using the “windows of opportunity” concepts offered by the ICCD report. A sustainable energy transition can be grouped within the three “boxes” of this “window”: context, supporters and concerns. Background Each province in Canada has autonomy to legislate laws that have made it easier for Ontario to pass and implement coal phase-out reform without the federal government's decision. The coal plants were relatively old and it was a good start towards their closure. The next crucial factor is the supply side: Ontario has also imported most of the coal used in power generation, rather than producing it locally, and has played an important role. On the other hand, the province had high potential for hydroelectric power production. Champions The campaign to phase out coal in Ontario has had active players. Environmentalists, doctors and civil society have joined efforts towards the common goal of phasing out coal. By 2003, carbon-related health issues were on the public agenda, creating a political window for three major parties: Progressive Conservative, Liberal, and New Democrat. The issue of health concerns related to coal pollution was a major issue in the 2003 election campaigns. Cross-party political consensus was crucial to moving the reform forward because it meant consistent, long-term support. It signaled to industry, the public, the bureaucracy and the entire opposition that, regardless of which party formed the government, this program would be consistently carried forward. Concerns In Ontario, values ​​such as human health and lifestyle are generally high on the political agenda. Public health was an obvious argument in support of phasing out coal. Additionally, the issues that drove the elimination initiativegradual included concerns about the environment, global warming, and green energy expectations. We can see that there were concerns and arguments for reform with respect to health and the environment. These concerns found stakeholders and decision makers who supported and promoted the reform processes. A substantial role in supporting energy reform has been played by a strong grassroots movement. All of these processes have led to the successful implementation of energy reform in Ontario. Even though Canada (and therefore Ontario) is a major country with wealthy corporations wielding enormous lobbying power, the nature of governance and the strength of democratic institutions have ensured that elected leaders can effectively address corporate and non-corporate lobbying. he could ignore public pressure due to strong grassroots awareness. “End of Coal” in Kazakhstan By 2017, Kazakhstan will have 63 power plants: 72% of electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, 12.3% from hydroelectric sources, 15% from gas and oil, and less than 0 .2% - from solar and wind energy.4 This clearly shows that Kazakhstan relies heavily on coal-based energy. Despite signing the Paris Agreement, the state continues to increase its CO2 emissions by expanding coal-based production. This clearly shows that Kazakhstan signed agreements to mitigate global warming mainly for international diplomatic purposes. There was no intention to succeed in reducing CO2 emissions. Kazakhstan's Nationally Determined Contribution contains an unconditional target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13% below 1990 levels by 2030. According to the Climate Action Tracker, an independent scientific analysis produced by three research organizations that monitor the 'climate action, Kazakhstan's goal to reduce emissions was rated "Insufficient". The assessment indicates that the state's climate commitment is inconsistent with keeping warming below 2°C, let alone limiting it to 1.5°C as required by the Paris Agreement. If other countries followed the Kazakh approach, warming would reach 3°C. Why is Kazakhstan violating its international commitments? Let's examine the conditions necessary for major political change. BackgroundKazakhstan has a legacy of Soviet-style governance. Political decisions such as energy reform must go through long bureaucratic processes. The next limitation would be the top-down policy approach. All ideas and decisions are controlled or directed from higher levels. You start with a general idea and gradually add details as you move down the hierarchy. For example, the implementation part of presidential policy has moved to the ministerial office. The top-down authoritarian model tends to neglect other actors such as environmentalists, doctors and civil society. The state has inadequate green energy sources. Kazakhstan does not rely on alternative energy sources because it is unable to compensate for the energy shortage. The southern and western parts of Kazakhstan suffer from electricity deficits. Kazakhstan is a small player in the global context. In 2016, Kazakhstan emitted approximately 250 MtCO2. It's a drop in the ocean. China, for example, emitted 10,151 MtCO2. The United States, in the same period, emitted approximately 5,500 MtCO2. Kazakhstan has a low impact in terms of CO2 emissions, leading to little international oversight. Therefore, there is little incentive to comply. Champions Weak civil society actors are a major source of concern. The top-down authoritarian model tends to neglect others.