The Green Economy in Market Oriented Countries The Case of Kazakhstan

A social market economy is predicated on the principle that sustainable development is possible only if there is a solid focus on key economic social and environmental issues The purpose of the research reported in this paper is to explore the outcomes of market reforms related to the shift to a green economy in the Republic of Kazakhstan The findings from the authors study indicate that today the Kazakh economy is one of the world s most energy intensive economies which is due to the use of outmoded infrastructure technology and standards most of which were inherited from as early as the Soviet period As a result of its market reforms Kazakhstan has experienced tangible economic growth but the nation s environmental indicators remain a serious concern in relation to the health of its citizens In the Environmental Performance Index EPI Kazakhstan has fallen far behind not only most developed market oriented countries but some of the developing nations that used to be part of the former Soviet Union as well like Russia Belarus Armenia Turkmenistan and others To galvanize the process of shifting to a green economy in the Republic of Kazakhstan it may help to implement some of the new instruments that have been employed as part of environmental policy in certain market oriented countries and have proven to be efficient These instruments and approaches include environmental taxes and levies permit trading systems deposit return systems environmentally motivated subsidies and organizations and enterprises displaying a willing voluntary attitude toward improving their environmental performance