LocationsClimate won’t wait – and neither will the youth: Kazakh school students create green solutions
August 12, 2025
August 12, marked as International Youth Day, is a time to speak about the younger generation – and to listen them with equal attention.
The climate is changing rapidly, and its impacts are becoming increasingly visible and tangible: rising temperatures, floods, melting glaciers, water scarcity and biodiversity loss. Global challenges demand urgent action and young people are stepping forward, bringing critical issues to light and driving green solutions.
This movement is already underway in Kazakhstan. More and more school students are stepping up as agents of changes. The Summer Climate Camp “The Climate Will Not Wait”, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), became a platform where the ideas of young people took shapes. Held in the picturesque Zerenda village in Akmola region, the camp brought together around schoolchildren, teachers and environmental experts - not only talk about climate change, but to actively seek solutions together.
The camp, held in mid-summer 2025, brought together more than 40 students and 20 teachers from across Kazakhstan. It was part of UNDP regional “Climate Box” initiative, which covers nine countries, including Kazakhstan.
Participants of The Climate Will Not Wait camp - over 40 students and 20 teachers from across Kazakhstan.
The Climate Box educational kit has been translated into Kazakh and includes interactive materials and practical activities that help students better understand climate change and take action. By the end of 2025, more than 150 schools across the country are expected to receive their Climate Box kits.
UNDP experts led thematic sessions on biodiversity conservation, climate change, energy efficiency and water conservation.
The program of the camp covered key environmental topics: biodiversity, energy efficiency, climate vulnerability, and water conservation. Each day had its own theme and featured sessions with invited speakers and UNDP experts, along with quests, trainings, creative activities, and discussions. The program engaged not only schoolchildren but also teachers, who gained valuable experience to bring modern, innovative approaches into their education programme.
“We are not waiting for the future – we are building it ourselves, because the climate is changing today, and the time to act is now!” say the participants of the “The Climate Will Not Wait” camp.
One of the key topics discussed at the camp was the issue of food waste - not merely a household inconvenience, but a serious global climate factor. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), around 8–10 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to food waste, with a significant portion coming from methane.
Sofia Mirmanova, a student from Petropavlovsk, developed a food-sharing initiative to redistribute near-expiry products from businesses to consumers.
“I have used similar mobile apps abroad. It is a win-win for everyone: stores reduce disposal costs, people get access to affordable food, and the planet sees less methane in the atmosphere,” Sofia says.
Sofia is a winner of The Climate Will Not Wait in the “Carbon Footprint Reduction” category.
Project of Sofia received high praise from experts, earning her the title of winner at The Climate Will Not Wait camp. Ahead lies an exciting journey - she will represent Kazakhstan at an international youth climate festival, where she will present her project and share her experience.
Sofia is a winner of The Climate Will Not Wait in the “Carbon Footprint Reduction” category.
Another inspiring idea came from Daria Batyrgaliyeva, an 8th-grade student from Raevka village in Akmola region. In the spring of 2024, Kazakhstan experienced its worst floods in decades, causing massive destruction to homes and infrastructure, displacing thousands of people, and inflicting major economic damage across several regions. The tragedy deeply affected Daria, who developed a rainwater and snowmelt collection system. Her design includes a reservoir that gathers and filters precipitation for reuse in household needs - a practical solution for both flood mitigation and water conservation.
Her solution was recognized among the best at the camp, and like Sofia, Daria is now preparing to present her project on an international stage.
“Only 2.5 percent of the water on the planet is freshwater, and we cannot afford to waste it. In our region, winter lasts six months and brings a lot of precipitation. Why not collect and use this vital resource efficiently?” Daria says.
Daria is an eighth-grade student from Raevka village, believes her project can not only minimize flood damage but also reduce the inefficient use of drinking water.
Camp participants tackled a broad spectrum of climate-related issues - from water resources to sustainable agriculture.
Yernar Talgat, student from the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Astana, addressed the global issue of agriculture’s carbon footprint. Agriculture accounts for about 11.7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and in Kazakhstan, over 60 percent of all freshwater is consumed by this sector. To help change this, Yernar developed PhytoBot - a smart robot that uses artificial intelligence to detect plant diseases and enable targeted treatment, preserving soil health and saving resources. The project also includes a drip irrigation system to significantly reduce water usage in farming.
“Climate does not change in a day, but the decisions we make today define the world we will live in tomorrow. This affects everyone, even if it is hard to believe right now,” shares Yernar.
Ninth-grade student Yernar is convinced that modern AI technologies can play a key role in solving environmental problems.
Batyrkhan Imanov, a 9th-grade student from Ust-Kamenogorsk, is deeply concerned about the environmental situation in his home region. The high concentration of industrial enterprises and seasonal loads on local thermal power plants significantly increase CO2 emissions. In response, Batyrkhan proposed an energy-efficient residential complex powered by solar panels and wind turbines.
“I want clean energy to be accessible to every citizen of Kazakhstan. We cannot build industry or boost the economy without thinking about nature and health people. The time to act is now”, Batyrkhan says.
Batyrkhan developed a sustainable housing project powered by green energy to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in his hometown of Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Another of Kazakhstan most environmentally vulnerable regions is the Karaganda region. With its legacy of heavy industry, coal mines, and high emission levels, it faces a number of serious environmental challenges. Here lives and studies Altaiyr Kultai who set out to address waste issues with a sustainable solution. His project - biodegradable cups made from recycled paper and starch.
Eco-friendly and easy to decompose, these cups can serve as a viable alternative to the plastic ones used daily for coffee and tea, which contribute heavily to environmental pollution.
“Plastic remains with us for centuries, contaminating our soil, water and air. I want simple solutions like mine to become part of everyday life and help reduce harm to nature,” - says Altaiyr.
Altaiyr from Karaganda region created biodegradable coffee and tea cups.
While the stories of these young people were diverse, they were united by a shared purpose to speak up and take action. One of those voices is Birganym Toleubekova, a student of the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Semey and the creator of a Kazakh-language podcast “1.5 Degrees”. In episodes, she discusses with experts and activists on climate change, water scarcity and biodiversity.
“My dream is to become a journalist so I can talk more about climate and nature. We, young people, do not have the same resources as adults, but we have ideas, passion and a sincere desire to change the world. My podcast is my way of making an impact right now,” Birganym says.
Birganym from Semey uses her podcast to draw attention to environmental and climate issues.
Due to the guidance and encouragement of educators like Gulim Batyrgaliyeva from Akmola region, Daria Batyrgaliyeva - the winner of the camp in the category “Climate Change Adaptation” was able to present her green project. The camp also became a source of inspiration for Gulim herself, motivating her to explore new approaches to environmental education in schools.
“At the camp, every young participant gained new ideas and motivation. They will share this with others and that is now a new generation of environmental agents will emerge,” Gulim says.
English teacher Gulim Batyrgaliyeva from Akmola region believes the climate camp has inspired teachers to rethink their classroom approaches.
Each sustainable project created by teenagers at the camp was not only the result of their inner drive, but also the outcome of strong support from adults walking alongside them. Teachers played a vital role at the camp - serving as mentors who helped transform ideas of students into actionable climate solutions.
Mathematics also plays a key role in climate education. Nurlan Akperov, a teacher at Specialized Lyceum in Almaty, is convinced that math empowers students to build real-world digital solutions using artificial intelligence (AI).
“Young people are deeply interested in AI and programming and that is where their enormous potential lies. With my students, we have already developed a carbon footprint calculator, and some are even testing models to analyze glacier melt. This isn’t just theory - it is action,” says Nurlan.
Mathematics teacher Nurlan Akperov notes the strong interest among Kazakhstani students in applying AI to modern environmental solutions.
Timur Shaimakhanov, a geography and science teacher from Astana, is also an active environmental activist. On his social media platforms, he raises awareness about pressing environmental issues both locally and nationally, such as the disappearance of the natural lakes in the Small Taldykol lake (Malyi Taldykol) or the lack of an effective national waste sorting system.
“I strive to involve my students in real challenges that build ecological awareness and skills. Seeing their eyes light up - that is the true goal of teaching”, Timur says.
Timur Shaimakhanov, a geography teacher in the capital, is also an eco-activist encouraging people to care more for their country’s natural heritage.
Irina Kovshar, an expert in environmental education and ecotourism led an interactive sessions for teachers, showing how ecological thinking can and should be developed in every school - no matter the region.
“At the climate camp brought together people who care - people who want to change the world today. I believe these students and teachers have already become hubs of new ideas, actions, and transformation in their communities”, says Irina.
Irina Kovshar, an environmental education expert, believes that ecological consciousness does not emerge from a textbook, but grows through continuous practice and connection with nature.
Today, young people in Kazakhstan are proving that the climate future can be changed right now - through projects, ideas, and action.
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