Kazakh Businesses to Trade Carbon Units on AIFC Exchange
Kazakh businesses implementing environmental projects will be able to trade carbon units on the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) exchange under a planned agreement with international carbon standard Verra.
The agreement is expected to be signed during Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026, which is being held on Sept. 9-10, AIFC Product Director Zhanbolat Kakishev said.
The initiative is aimed at expanding access to international carbon markets for businesses implementing projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions. Verra is an international nonprofit organization that develops standards for verifying emission reductions and removals.
Under Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), independently verified environmental projects can issue carbon units. One carbon unit generally represents one metric ton of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or removed from the atmosphere, measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). The units can subsequently be traded with companies and other participants in carbon markets.
Participants at AFD 2026 also discussed Kazakhstan’s efforts to develop new asset classes and expand its digital financial infrastructure as part of broader measures to modernize the country’s capital markets.
Held under the theme “Delivering Impact. Capital in Action,” AFD 2026 has attracted more than 8,000 registered participants, including representatives of major international investment companies and funds managing nearly US$26 trillion in assets.
