Astana Expo 2017 ‘will drive innovation in sustainable energy’
Kazakhstan’s Expo will power global innovation in future energy sources and technologies, Yerbol Shormanov, Deputy Chairman of Astana 2017, has promised delegates at the UNIDO General Conference this week.
Speaking as part of an expert panel debating ‘Sustainable Industrialization for shared prosperity’, Mr Shormanov said: “Expo 2017 is about how the world can make use of energy resources more efficiently and less damagingly. It will showcase the most efficient energy technologies of the future and make a compelling case for how and why they should be adopted globally.”
Mr Shormanov continued: “There has never been a better time to stop and consider the broad issue of our relationship with energy. Expo 2017 will do just that, addressing the challenges we face, as well as anticipating solutions to those challenges. It will explore strategies, programs and technologies aimed at sustainable energy development, consider the issues of energy security and efficiency and examine the role of renewable energy.”
The high-level debate highlighted the role of innovation hubs – such as Astana Expo 2017 – in driving sustainable industrialization. Also joining the UNIDO debate, organised with the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan, was the CEO of Kazakhstan's National Innovation Cluster in Almaty, Sanzhar Kettebekov.
Innovation hubs are communities, work spaces or research centres that enable face-to-face interactions and knowledge transfer between researchers and business, industry, government and representatives of academia.
Kazakhstan’s Expo has the theme ‘Future Energy’, underscoring the country’s commitment to make the world’s use of energy resources more efficient and less damaging.
Kazakhstan started its Green Bridge environmental initiative in 2010, which has now turned into an international project.
As a major energy producer with some of the world’s richest reserves of oil, gas and uranium, Kazakhstan embarked on an ambitious transformative journey towards a green economy. Among its sustainability goals, a key target is for Kazakhstan to generate 50 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.
In his speech to delegates, Mr Shormanov added: “We believe that the theme of our exhibition and its development in Astana in 2017 will be a new step for humanity in joining efforts to resolve global issues related to climate change, increasing energy efficiency, and providing access to energy for everyone. At the same time, the EXPO-2017 exhibition will have a scientific and educational theme, which will be an additional incentive for developing countries to make the transition to alternative energy sources.
“It is important for us that Kazakhstan not only becomes the centre of innovative technologies in the field of alternative energy sources in 2017, but also the main point of reference in selecting trends for future energy development.”
More than 100 countries and 10 international organizations are expected to participate at Astana Expo 2017 – and the event will attract between 2-3 million people visiting the international pavilions.
Vienna, 1 December 2015
