The third summer school on green economy gathered participants from 5 countries

The opening of the annual summer school “Gem-silkway 2023 Central Asia edition” took place at the Eurasian National University. The event was attended by the rector of ENU named after L.N. Gumilyov, Erlan Sydykov, the Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, Marco Alberti, professors from Kazakhstan, Italian, and Spanish universities, as well as students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Italy.

The summer school is dedicated to discussing the issues of sustainable development of the green economy and “green” energy, as well as the consolidation of efforts by countries worldwide to address common environmental geopolitical problems. The organizers of the summer school are the Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyov, Eni S.p.A., the Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan, and the University of Milan-Bicocca.

“This year, this summer school is being held at ENU for the third time. The Green Energy management summer school is becoming one of the trademarks of our university. Recognizing the importance of the task of preserving and protecting the planet, ENU contributes to the formation and dissemination of knowledge in green energy through the implementation of educational programs, conducting scientific research, and implementing projects such as 'Green Economy' and 'TREASUREWATER.' Additionally, since 2022, the Kazakhstan-Polish Research Center for 'Green Economy' has been operating at ENU. Today's meeting is an excellent opportunity for exchanging experiences and opinions in the field of green energy development, discussing perspectives, and defining necessary measures for sustainable development in the Eurasian region,” noted Erlan Sydykov in his welcome speech.

Marco Alberti, the Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, drew attention to the fact that 9 million people die each year worldwide due to environmental pollution.

“Without sustainability, there are no innovations. Innovations are the goal. We must use them if we want to develop society. Sustainability is the path without which innovations are meaningless. It would be incorrect to talk about sustainable development without involving companies. If companies are not involved, any decarbonization strategy is not viable. Sustainable development is impossible without collaboration with the private sector. Therefore, we want to involve more stakeholders in this project. Our goal is to create conditions and a platform for implementing sustainable development. We need professionals who will take care of sustainable development. People are the key to the success of any strategy. That is why universities play a crucial role in transformation,” emphasized the diplomat.

Sultan Birzhanuly, a 3rd-year student at ENU, shared his impressions of the first day:

“On the first day of the summer school, the main facts about the energy security of EU countries and the interaction between the Central Asian states, including our country, were presented. I liked everything, including the discussion of acute issues related to energy cooperation between states,” said the student.

Antonio Sebilia, a participant from Italy, noted that he is participating in the summer school to broaden his horizons and to apply the acquired knowledge in his career.

“It is also a good opportunity to get to know different countries, including Kazakhstan and Central Asia. I would like to return to Kazakhstan to learn more about the people, history, and culture,” added the foreign guest.

During the summer school, lecturers from ENU, the University of Milan-Bicocca, KazNU, Webster University in Tashkent, and the University of Santiago de Compostela will deliver lectures on the geopolitics of multilateral relations in Central Asia, renewable energy sources, and environmental policies in the Central Asian region and other important strategic directions.

As part of the event, a round table discussion titled “Central Asia and New Geopolitical Perspectives: Energy Transition” will be held.

At the end of the summer school, participants will present their ideas and give presentations.

It should be noted that the summer school will be held annually at the Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyov as part of the activities of the “Silk Way” consortium. It was established in 2022 and brings together universities from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.