Akhmetov, Daulet2024-08-142024-08-142021-04-30Daulet, A. (2021). Carbon strategies of Kazakhstan power generation companies under ETS regulation. Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policyhttps://nur.nu.edu.kz/handle/123456789/8200Climate change is a global threat to the sustainable development of human civilization. The Paris Climate Agreement proposed a new international framework for consolidation of the climate mitigation and adaptation efforts of advanced, transitional, and developing economies. To support this global response to climate change, Kazakhstan was the first country in the Asian continent as well as in the post-Soviet region that adopted a national carbon trading system, which its government implemented in 2013. The Kazakhstan coal-based power generating companies have responded to the national carbon policy by different corporate carbon strategies, however, the country has failed to promote the decarbonization of its power industry and improve its carbon-performance. This study provides a comprehensive account of the challenges of decarbonization of the coal-based power industry within the context of a transitional economy such as Kazakhstan. A novel research methodology is developed that combines descriptive models of firms’ climate mitigation responses and the pluralistic research perspectives of the rational approach and Cultural theory. Empirically, the study involves the in-depth case study of carbon strategies of the Kazakhstan coal-based power generating companies under ETS regulation. The focus on the country’s coal-based power generation is explained by the significant contribution of coal combustion to the problem of climate change and about 70% of the share of coal in Kazakhstan's electricity production. The data collection and analysis is based on 20 interviews with representatives of Kazakhstan coal-fueled power generating companies and 10 independent industry experts, as well as official documents and media output...enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United StatesType of access: Gatedclimate changeETScarbon emissionstransitional economyKazakhstancoal-fueled power generationPhD thesis