According to the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, «instruments of state regulation in the field of environmental protection are understood as a set of measures, actions and procedures aimed at ensuring compliance with environmental requirements^[199]».

State regulation in the field of ecology is aimed at minimizing the negative impact on the environment, rational use of natural resources and ensuring environmental safety. The main instruments of such regulation include:

Licensing of activities in the field of environmental protection.

These activities include issuing special permits for activities that may have a significant impact on nature. Types of works and services of individuals and legal entities in the field of environmental protection that are subject to licensing are determined in accordance with the Law of Kazakhstan «On Permits and Notifications». For example, issuing a license for the management of hazardous waste (hazard classes I–IV) or for the operation of industrial facilities associated with emissions of harmful substances.

Environmental rationing.

Environmental rationing consists in setting environmental quality standards, environmental quality targets, and standards for permissible anthropogenic impact on the environment. Environmental quality standards are a set of quantitative and qualitative characteristics established by the state in relation to the state of individual components of the environment, the achievement and maintenance of which are necessary to ensure a favorable environment. For example, the level of pollutant emissions for enterprises.

Technical regulation in the field of environmental protection.

Development and implementation of environmental standards, regulations and requirements for products, technologies and production processes. This also includes environmental labeling, which means a statement informing about the environmental aspects of products, works or services in the form of text, a sign or graphic image on the product label or packaging, in accompanying documentation, technical description, advertising prospectus, information leaflet for the public or other form. For example, GOST R 56828.30-2018 «The best available technologies. Wastewater treatment».

Environmental assessment.

This is the process of identifying, studying, describing and evaluating possible direct and indirect significant impacts of the implementation of a planned and ongoing activity or a document being developed on the environment. Strategic environmental assessment, environmental impact assessment, transboundary impact assessment, and simplified environmental assessment are distinguished. For example, conducting an assessment prior to the construction of an oil pipeline to assess the risks of soil and water contamination.

State Environmental Expertise Service.

This is an expert activity aimed at determining the compliance of documentation submitted for environmental expertise with the requirements of the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and carried out in order to prevent possible significant adverse effects of the implementation of such documentation on public health and the environment, as well as to ensure the environmental foundations of sustainable development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. There are the following types of environmental expertise: state and public. For example, examination of the project of a new waste sorting station for compliance with sanitary and epidemiological standards.

Environmental permits and environmental impact declarations.

This is a document certifying the right of individual entrepreneurs and legal entities to carry out a negative impact on the environment and determining the environmental conditions for carrying out activities. The following types of environmental permits are issued in the Republic of Kazakhstan: a comprehensive environmental permit and an environmental impact permit. For example, an emission permit for a steel mill or an environmental impact statement for a small enterprise.

Monitoring of the environment and natural resources.

This is a system for monitoring the state of air, water, soil, forests, etc. Kazakhstan has a Unified state System for monitoring the environment and natural resources, which is a multi-purpose system provided by the state, which combines all existing systems, subsystems and types of monitoring in the Republic of Kazakhstan, covering directly or indirectly the issues of environmental protection, protection, reproduction and use of natural resources, protection of life and (or) human health from exposure harmful factors of the natural and anthropogenic environment, as well as the impact of climate change and projected impacts of climate change. For example, automatic air quality monitoring stations in cities that monitor the level of nitrogen dioxide.

State environmental control (supervision).

This is the activity of the authorized body in the field of environmental protection, aimed at ensuring compliance by individuals and legal entities with the requirements of the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. State environmental control is carried out in the following forms: preventive control without visiting the subject (object); preventive control with visiting the subject (object); inspections. The procedure for conducting state environmental control is established by the norms of the Environmental and Business Codes of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Notification procedure for waste collection, sorting, and transportation.

Simplified procedure for small and medium-sized businesses involved in waste management. For example, a solid waste removal company submits a notification to the state body before starting work.

Regulatory tools for greenhouse gas emissions and removals.

This can be carbon regulation (taxes, quotas, emissions trading). Or promoting low-carbon technologies.

Additional tools include economic incentives (tax incentives for «green» enterprises), environmental insurance (compensation for damage caused by accidents), and ecosystem restoration programs (reforestation, land reclamation).

These mechanisms combine economic development with conservation of natural resources and minimization of environmental damage.

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^[199] Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2100000400. Date of access 23.04.2025