Seminar “Analytics on Ambient Air Quality in Almaty”

On November 10, a seminar-training on ambient air quality in Almaty was held within the framework of foresight studies, jointly organized with the Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Almaty City Akimat. The seminar was attended by 56 participants, including representatives of the scientific, academic, and business communities.

Participants emphasized the city’s transition toward a smart and sustainable megacity model, where development management is based on data, science, and digital technologies. The key challenges identified were critically high air pollution levels and the high seismic vulnerability of the urban environment.

Experts noted that during the winter season, PM2.5 concentrations in Almaty exceed World Health Organization (WHO) standards by dozens of times. The main contributors are motor vehicles and heating sources; however, the local impact of the HoReCa sector has become increasingly noticeable, especially in the central districts of the city. In this context, the “Clean HoReCa” concept was proposed, incorporating modern filtration technologies, digital monitoring, and green certification, as well as the development of a “smart air” ecosystem. Measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact of this sector were also proposed. The initiative is directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 “Climate Action” and is regarded as a practical contribution of the academic community to addressing contemporary climate challenges.