Experts point out that reducing greenhouse gas emissions also brings the benefit of cutting other harmful emissions. Equipping just 5-10 percent of households across the country with solar panels could provide generating capacity comparable to that of a large combined heat and power plant with a capacity of 500–1,000 MW. Finding solutions that can simultaneously improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is therefore becoming an increasingly important part of Kazakhstan’s environmental policy.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) actively supports the Government of Kazakhstan in meeting its climate commitments, including by developing mechanisms to mobilize private and international investment. UNDP helps advance integrated solutions by bringing together government institutions, businesses, the scientific community and international partners to support lasting environmental change. One example is the joint work undertaken to identify solutions for improving air quality in Almaty. This work resulted in recommendations for fundamental transformations of the city’s infrastructure, including mobility, energy supply and waste management. At the same time, the efforts of civil society and local activists are helping to strengthen public awareness of the importance of pollution monitoring and transparent environmental data.

The transition to renewable energy is becoming increasingly relevant for agriculture as well as for large enterprises. Farmers and entrepreneurs in several regions of Kazakhstan are already using biomass boilers and solar power systems, helping them reduce energy costs and emissions.

UNDP pilot projects demonstrate the potential of these solutions. At a school-college in the village of Beskol, for example, the installation of a biomass boiler system reduced heating costs by almost 80 percent and cut CO₂ emissions by approximately 900 tons per year.