Ecology

"According to the environmental monitoring of atmospheric air, at the end of 2019, out of forty-five localities, ten cities are classified as high levels of atmospheric air pollution. These are Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Karaganda, Temirtau, Atyrau, Aktobe, Balkhash, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Zhezkazgan and Shymkent. In addition, a significant amount of pollutant emissions falls in the Pavlodar region. We are all concerned about the following major environmental issues. These are air and surface water pollution, an imperfect waste management system,"historical" pollution and lack of landscaping", Mirzagaliyev said at the Government meeting on Tuesday.

Mirzagaliyev reminded that the new Environmental Code was adopted in the second reading in the Majilis of the Parliament. It aims to significantly reduce the impact on the environment. "However, without waiting for the final adoption of the new Environmental Code, based on the concept of a "Listening State", environmental problems and ways to solve them are considered with the public, especially with eco-activists in all regions". In total, according to him, seventeen online meetings were held. About twenty-five thousand people were present. As a result of the discussion, seventeen Road Maps were developed together with the public, akimats and nature users. These documents provide for specific measures to improve the environmental situation in the regions.

According to independent experts, among the residents of certain regions of the country due to air, water and soil pollution, there is a 40% increase in diseases such as allergies, oncology, and lung diseases. Obviously, the main source of air pollution is industrial enterprises. And this is clear. Almost 87% of the power industry in Kazakhstan is fueled by coal, and mainly cheap Ekibastuz coal is used as fuel, with an ash content of 45%.

"The Road Map prepared to improve the environmental situation of the city of Almaty provides for twenty measures. The main ones are: conversion to gas of CHPP-2 and CHPP-3, gasification of the private sector areas adjacent to the city, conversion of public transport and public transport to compressed natural gas, phased ban of public transport on diesel fuel, introduction of entry restrictions/transit transport movements and landscaping", said Magzum Mirzagaliyev.

Also, the megapolis is conducting research on the wind regime, taking into account which they will make changes to the rules of architectural appearance and adjust the general construction plans.
 
"As a result of the implementation of measures, the volume of emissions of pollutants will be reduced from one hundred and forty - four thousand tons to seventy-nine thousand tons, or by forty-four percent", the Minister said, stressing that we pollute not only the air, but also the land and water.

The volume of solid waste generation in the country is growing every year. Currently, more than 120 million tons of waste has already been accumulated on 3,500 landfills. In addition, not all landfills meet environmental and sanitary requirements.
 
It is planned to increase the level of waste processing from the current 15% to 30%; implement the construction of 24 new landfills and eliminate five overcrowded landfills.

In six cities: Aktobe, Almaty, Atyrau, Nur-Sultan, Taraz and Shymkent, a pilot project is already underway to incinerate waste and generate electricity from it. This project is being implemented in the country for the first time. The Minister believes that thanks to this technology, by 2025 the level of waste processing will be brought to 30%, that is, to the average European level.