2nd Conference on Energy transition, Sustainability and Inclusive Development in Central Asia 2024

Date/Time
Date(s) - 16/04/2024
09:00 - 13:00

Categories

Conference

Europe and Central Asia are linked by decades of commodity trade, but also by developing climate cooperation. Yet Central Asia plays a limited role in the European public debate on global climate change and energy transition. Both global and local energy transitions pose significant challenges for Central Asia, given its rapidly growing population, ageing infrastructure, heavy dependence on fossil fuels and climate change. At the same time, the transition to renewable energy and the development of hydrogen production and net zero value chains offer new opportunities for all countries in the region.

In two panels, we will discuss energy transition, sustainability and inclusive development in Central Asia with eminent academics and practitioners from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and European countries. The first panel will focus on the successes, challenges and pitfalls of energy transition in Central Asia, including regional and European-Central Asian cooperation. The second panel will focus on energy transition and inclusive development. We will discuss how researchers and practitioners can engage with different types of stakeholders and the public in Central Asia to support inclusive development.

The conference is designed to attract a broad audience, including researchers, policy makers and members of civil society.

8.45 am	Registration
9 – 9.20	Introduction by Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (ENC) and Sebastian Schiek (SPCE Hub)Key Note Professor Fabienne Bossuyt, Ghent Institute for International and European Studies (GIES)
9.30 – 10-30	Panel discussion I: Energy and energy transition in Central Asia Speakers Bahtiyor Eshchanov, Energy Economist, Fiscal Institute, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Ainur Sospanova, Chairperson of the Board of QazaqGreen, Kazakhstan Abylaikhan Soltanayev, Kazakh University of Power Engeneering and Telecommunications, Kazakhstan Wladimir Sgibnev, Leibniz Institute für Länderkunde, Germany Chair Yana Zabanova, Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS), Potsdam, Germany
10.30 – 11.00	Coffee break
11.00 – 11.15	Fabienne Bossuyt, GIES, and Alexey Kobzev, German-Kazakh University, in conversation with Sarah Rinaldi, Head of Unit for the Middle East and Central Asia at EU INTPA
11.15 – 12.15	Panel Discussion II: Sustainability, Inclusion and Participation from researchers’ and practitioners’ perspectives. Speakers Ainura Sagyn, Co-Founder and Director of TAZAR, Kyrgyzstan Saida Yusupova, Founder of Green Business Innovation Uzbekistan and Tech4Impact, Uzbekistan Kubatkbek Muktarbek uulu, Technical University Bishkek (KSTU), Kyrgyzstan and Berliner Hochschule für Technik, Germany Jochen Eckart, Hochschule Karlsruhe – University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany Chair Karolina Kluczewska, Ghent Institute for International and European Studies (GIES)