Managing ESG and cyber risks in Kazakhstan’s low-carbon transition by aligning EU and Chinese standards through demoethics

The transition to low-carbon energy requires not only technological transformation but also new governance approaches to manage emerging ESG and cyber risks. This study examines how Kazakhstan can navigate its climate transition by aligning regulatory standards and sustainability practices with those of the European Union and China. The paper adopts an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in demoethics, emphasizing ethical responsibility, institutional quality, and long-term sustainability in climate governance. Using a foresight-based methodology that combines SWOT analysis, the Cartesian square framework, and a balanced demoethical decision model, the study evaluates strategic pathways for strengthening climate diplomacy and digital governance in the energy transition. The analysis highlights how digitalization and artificial intelligence can support risk management, institutional coordination, and responsible ESG integration. The proposed demoethical framework offers a governance mechanism that promotes ethical decision-making, institutional resilience, and cooperative climate diplomacy among key actors. The study contributes to the discussion on sustainability governance by integrating ethics, digital transformation, and international regulatory alignment in the context of low-carbon development.