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Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, is making significant strides in environmental protection and sustainable development. Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's instructions to strengthen environmental protection, the city has implemented a series of measures aimed at forest management, carbon offsetting, emergency readiness, and green infrastructure development.
One of the key initiatives is the revision of the Forest Law, which now supports eco-tourism and climate response. This includes allocating land plots for haymaking and grazing, enhancing aviation-based forest monitoring, and improving forest workers' conditions by increasing their salaries by 25%.
The updated law also introduces a legal framework for carbon offset initiatives, enabling planting trees and restoring lands to absorb greenhouse gases. It creates a system of tradable carbon units, furthering Kazakhstan's commitment under the Paris Agreement.
In response to environmental emergencies such as floods and wildfires, protocols have been clarified, and the government maintains aviation fuel reserves and improves coordination between the Ministry of Ecology and emergency services to enhance response effectiveness.
The World Bank has produced guidelines to assist Almaty city and oblast authorities in planning and implementing green corridors. These corridors aim to restore landscapes and increase climate resilience tailored to the region’s diverse ecosystems from deserts to mountain forests.
The Ecological Code of Kazakhstan enshrines principles for environmental protection, such as precaution and proportionality, to ensure a high standard of ecological safety, prevent pollution and damage, support sustainable development, and fulfill international climate commitments.
In a bid to balance urban development and safeguard the city's foothills from construction, President Tokayev has announced a moratorium on high-rise and selective construction in Almaty. This decision follows criticism from MP Sergei Ponamarev regarding the construction of a 40-story RAMS building in Almaty.
The city's economic growth is also noteworthy. The short-term economic indicator of Almaty increased by 11% in the first half of 2025, and investments in fixed capital rose by 25.4%. During a meeting, Almaty's Mayor, Darhan Satybaldy, reported on the social and economic development outcomes and prospects of the megacity.
The transport network in Almaty is being developed to connect districts effectively, and public transport accessibility is being improved as part of this development. The polycentric development of Almaty, which reduces pressure on central districts, evenly distributes urban infrastructure, and creates a comfortable environment, is another significant aspect of the city's development.
These measures address both direct environmental protection and climate adaptation strategies, reinforcing Almaty’s sustainability efforts and aligning with national and international environmental objectives.
- The revision of Kazakhstan's Forest Law, under the policy-and-legislation section, now supports eco-tourism and climate response, which includes general-news topics like allocating land plots for haymaking and grazing, enhancing aviation-based forest monitoring, and improving forest workers' conditions.
- In the realm of politics, President Tokayev's announcement of a moratorium on high-rise and selective construction in Almaty, in response to criticism, is a part of the city's efforts to balance urban development and safeguard its foothills, aligning with the general-news topic of environmental protection.
