Results of Subprogramme 4 of the Megagrant IRN BR21882122: Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

On January 19, 2026, a final meeting of the main participants of the megagrant IRN BR21882122 entitled “Sustainable Development of Natural-Economic and Socio-Economic Systems of the West Kazakhstan Region in the Context of Green Growth: Integrated Analysis, Concept, Forecast Assessments and Scenarios” was held within Subprogramme 4, “Assessment of Soil Contamination in the West Kazakhstan Region by Toxic Chemical Substances as a Result of Industrial Activities.”

The meeting was attended by T.A. Bazarbaeva, B.E. Shimshikov, Z.A. Tukenova, G.A. Mukanova, E.Kh. Kakimzhanov, K.T. Kyrgyzbay, A.A. Oshakbay, S.M. Zhumataev, and A. Alimuratkyzy. During the meeting, final reports and key issues related to the implementation of the megagrant were discussed, and the results of three years of joint scientific research were summarized.

The implementation of the subprogramme contributed to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” and SDG 15 “Life on Land,” through the acquisition of scientifically substantiated data on soil conditions and anthropogenic pressure.

At the conclusion of the meeting, all participants were presented with the monograph “Assessment of Soil Cover Contamination in the West Kazakhstan Region by Heavy Metals and Petroleum Products as a Result of Industrial Activities,” published within the framework of this project. The project team expressed sincere gratitude to the management and all members of the eight research groups for their fruitful cooperation, high level of scientific interaction, and significant contribution to achieving the project’s objectives.