Kazakhstan unveils bold plan to combat worsening urban air pollution

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has held discussions with regional administrations (akimats) and territorial environmental departments on measures to improve air quality, the ministry's press service reports.

According to data from Kazhydromet, Kazakhstan's national hydrometeorological service, 11 cities recorded persistently high air pollution levels in 2025. The most affected remain Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Karaganda, Temirtau, Aktobe, and others.

The ministry noted that the country is adopting best available techniques (BAT) and modernizing industrial facilities. To date, 21 major enterprises have begun transitioning to BAT standards, with another 22 applications under review. A comprehensive modernization plan for thermal power generation has also been approved for 22 energy-producing facilities.

"However, a significant share of pollution comes from smaller sources—vehicles, private households, and small businesses. In Almaty, for example, transport accounts for 60% of emissions, while private homes and small boilers contribute over 12%. A similar pattern is seen in Ust-Kamenogorsk and other major cities," the ministry stated.

To incorporate global best practices, ministry representatives studied Beijing's approach, where a comprehensive air quality management system has been implemented. This includes transitioning transport to electric power, tightening emissions standards for vehicles and industries, establishing environmental zones, and enforcing national dust control regulations.

During the meeting with regional authorities and environmental departments, a draft Air Protection Code developed by Almaty's akimat was presented. Drawing on Beijing's successful experience, the Ministry of Ecology instructed regional administrations to develop their own Air Protection Regulations for 2026–2028, incorporating the following measures:

• Gasification of private households, supported by subsidies and incentives;
• A ban on solid fuel use in catering establishments and small boilers;
• Incentives for connecting to centralized heating systems;
• Transitioning public transport and taxis to electric and gas-powered vehicles;
• Traffic restrictions during adverse weather conditions using an odd-even license plate system, alongside ecological zoning;
• Creation of green belts around industrial zones.

Additionally, regional authorities were tasked with accelerating efforts to compile comprehensive air pollution assessments, set environmental quality targets, and finalize aggregated permits for maximum allowable emissions. Currently, these strategic documents remain incomplete in some regions.