A Panel Discussion on “Kazakhstan’s Environmental Future: Challenges, Partnerships, and Solutions” Held in Astana, DKnews.kz reports.
The Presidential Center of the Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a panel discussion on “Kazakhstan’s Environmental Future: Challenges, Partnerships, and Solutions” as part of the nationwide environmental campaign “Taza Qazaqstan” in honor of World Environment Day.
It is worth noting that this panel discussion served as a platform to discuss concrete steps for implementing the Head of State’s initiative “Taza Qazaqstan,” to exchange experiences, and to seek joint solutions for improving the country’s environmental situation.
“World Environment Day, which Kazakhstan, like other countries, celebrates on June 5, is not just a date on the calendar. It serves as a reminder to each of us of the fragility of nature and of our shared responsibility to protect it. At the initiative of the President of the country, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a large-scale campaign called ‘Taza Qazaqstan’ was launched a year ago. It aims to improve the state of the environment, mobilize resources, and transform public attitudes towards environmental issues. Speaking at the Ecological Festival on April 21 this year, the Head of State emphasized: ‘Cleanliness must start with each person, each home, each street, and each city. The ‘Taza Qazaqstan’ campaign should not be a one-off event; it should become our way of life’. These words clearly capture the essence of an approach based on the consolidation of efforts by the state, the scientific and expert community, businesses, NGOs, the media, and citizens, with the aim of building a long-term systemic policy. Our steppes, mountains, rivers, deserts, and lakes are not only natural but also cultural and historical heritage. Preserving this wealth is our shared duty. Today’s panel discussion is intended to contribute to the dialogue and search for solutions to the pressing challenges in the field of environmental management and protection,” said Bakytzhan Temirbolat, Director of the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in his welcoming remarks.
The event brought together approximately 60 participants, including representatives of government agencies, members of parliament, academia, NGOs, faculty and students, as well as industry experts.
“The environmental future of Kazakhstan is impossible without a systematic approach to waste management. Today, we produce over 5 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, and less than 20% of it is recycled. This poses not only an environmental but also an economic challenge. The ‘Taza Qazaqstan’ campaign has shown that society has the energy and the willingness to change. Now the task is to embed this in our culture and in systematic work: through environmental education, infrastructure modernization, and partnership among all stakeholders – the government, business, and citizens. Implementing the Concept of Environmental Culture is our chance to make environmental consciousness part of our mindset, not just part of our policy. Every clean courtyard, every recycled kilogram of waste, every conscious action is a contribution to the country’s sustainable future,” said Azhar Sagandykova, Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Natalya Dauletiyarova, Acting Director of the Department of Environmental Policy at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, also shared her perspective: “Last year, our ministry developed and approved the Concept for the Development of Environmental Culture for 2024-2029. Key components for fostering an environmental culture include the awareness and practice of resource-efficient consumption, readiness to change personal behavior, environmental literacy and responsibility among the public and businesses, as well as the adoption of necessary thematic decisions by government agencies”.
The speaker also spoke about the Ministry’s projects and initiatives focused on environmental conservation and protection, such as the protection and restoration of forests, reduction of harmful emissions into the air and water, introduction of renewable energy sources, waste separation and recycling, and the large-scale planting of greenery.
During the event, there were also presentations by Saule Kozyke, Deputy Chair of the “International Center for Green Technologies and Investment Projects” JSC; Aizhan Skakova, Expert of the Public Council under the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan; and Vladimir Dekhnich, Associate Professor of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Management at the Kazakhstan Branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University.
As a result of the panel discussion, recommendations for joint actions in the field of ecology and environmental protection will be developed for the country’s government agencies.
