The World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
The World Bank Open Knowledge Repository (OKR) is The World Bank’s official open access repository for its research outputs and knowledge products.
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Total publications: 39,158
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Publication Green Corridor Planner Guidelines, Almaty Agglomeration, Kazakhstan(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-08-06) World BankAlmaty Agglomeration is a large territory in Central Asia, located in a region with a sharply continental climate characterized by cold winters and dry summers. The area includes diverse ecological zones ranging from deserts to mountain meadows and forests, creating varied microclimates and valuable landscapes. However, specific landscapes require tailored approaches: while the mountains offer a better microclimate, they pose a risk of landslides, and in the desert, high aridity and potential summer droughts must be considered. This report serves as a comprehensive, practical guide to support the Almaty City and Almaty Oblast Akimats in planning and implementing green corridors for landscape restoration and enhanced climate resilience.Publication Fostering Climate Education and Youth Entrepreneurship in Central Asia: The Path to Climate Resilience(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-08-06) World BankClimate education and youth entrepreneurship are pathways for young people to become agents of change in their communities in response to the environmental challenges of today, particularly climate change. This report provides recommendations on developing climate education and youth entrepreneurship in Central Asia, as the region transitions to building resilient and green economies. This report presents key findings from the study Rural Schools and the Development of Entrepreneurship Skills Related to Natural Resources and Climate in Central Asia—a three-year initiative aimed at integrating climate change awareness and entrepreneurship education with landscape restoration investments across the region.Publication Fertilizer Sector: Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization (EE&D) Opportunities(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-08-06) World BankPakistan’s fertilizer sector makes a significant contribution to the country’s economy, accounting for approximately 4.4 percent of large-scale manufacturing output and 1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). As part of the large-scale manufacturing sector, the fertilizer industry is driven primarily by agriculture, particularly crops. The sector’s reliance on natural gas makes it vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility. Consequently, government policies on gas allocation, subsidies, and environmental regulations play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s performance. The production of ammonia, an intermediate product in the manufacture of fertilizer, is a particularly energy intensive value-chain process; natural gas accounts for 70 percent of the total energy consumption in ammonia manufacture with coal, oil, and electricity used in lesser quantities. Overall, more than 9 percent of gas supplied to the industrial sector in Pakistan is utilized by fertilizer industries. Production of urea makes up nearly 70 percent of the fertilizer sector’s output while the rest consists of products such as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), calcium ammonium nitrate, nitro phosphate (NP), and various mixes of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK). According to the country’s latest greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, emissions from fertilizer production amounts to 7 percent of overall national industrial emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) from ammonia production is the main source of direct GHG emissions from the sector however, fertilizer plants capture most of the CO2 for reuse in the manufacture of urea. This note describes decarbonization interventions to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions in the fertilizer sector while increasing industrial competitiveness and providing wider economic and environmental benefits.Publication Greenway to Konaev: Action Plan for a Green Corridor in Almaty Agglomeration, Kazakhstan(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-08-06) World BankCentral Asia and Kazakhstan face severe climate challenges from land degradation and desertification, fueled by sand and dust storms, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss. The Greenway to Konaev Pilot Project is part of an ambitious initiative to develop a multi-use greenway linking Almaty to the Kapchagai Reservoir. The project is designed to serve as a model for sustainable landscape restoration and eco-tourism in Kazakhstan, addressing critical environmental, economic, and social needs in the Almaty region. The greenway integrates green infrastructure with eco-tourism and recreational amenities, aiming to create a vibrant corridor that emphasizes natural biodiversity, functionality, aesthetics, and water efficiency in its design principles. The project offers a transformative approach to sustainable landscape restoration, green infrastructure, and eco-tourism in Almaty. By integrating environmental sustainability with economic and community benefits, the greenway will create a vibrant corridor that enhances the region’s resilience and supports local communities. Through this initiative, Almaty Oblast and its partners are setting a new standard for sustainable development in Central Asia, laying the groundwork for an interconnected green network that fosters a healthier, more prosperous, and ecologically resilient future.Publication Achieving Energy Efficiency in Buildings(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-08-06) World BankBuildings in Pakistan account for over 43.7 percent of the country’s total energy use and represent a significant opportunity for energy efficiency and conservation. The high energy consumption in buildings is primarily attributed to Pakistan’s predominantly sunny and hot climate, which drives high demand for cooling for most of the year—and the widespread reliance on inefficient gas and firewood appliances for heating and cooking. Driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing construction demand, energy use in buildings and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with buildings are projected to grow considerably. The buildings sector drove higher electricity demand in 2024, growing four times faster than in 2023. Global electricity consumption in buildings increased by more than 600 terawatt hours (5 percent) in 2024. Globally, buildings account for 37 percent of energy and process-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In addition to the high overall levels of energy consumption in buildings, seasonal variation in electricity and gas load patterns also pose a problem. For instance, electricity peak demand in summer rises briefly to over 25,000 megawatts (MW) from a baseload of only 8,500 MW. The benefits of energy efficiency in buildings however extend beyond reduced energy consumption or peak demand management. Energy-efficient buildings provide a healthier and more supportive living and work environment by improving indoor air quality and enhancing overall occupant comfort. In addition, demand for new construction materials and techniques in the building industry generates livelihood opportunities. Key findings from the World Bank’s comprehensive assessment on Buildings Energy Efficiency in Pakistan, conducted in 2022 and 2023, are presented below; details on the assessment’s approach, data collection, and methodology are provided in annex 1.