Environmental Pollution by Waste: Current Challenges and Educational Solutions

The ЮНЕСКО Chair in Sustainable Development of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences is successfully implementing the I International Winter Online School «Sorting and disposal of municipal solid waste», dedicated to the International Day of Zero Waste. On March 3, 2026, as part of the fifth day of the Winter School, Senior Lecturer O.A. Zubova delivered a lecture on «Pollution of soil, water and atmosphere by waste». The lecture provided a detailed overview of the current challenges related to the accumulation of municipal solid waste in the Republic of Kazakhstan, its morphological composition, and the mechanisms through which pollutants migrate from landfills into soil, water bodies, and the atmosphere.

Particular attention was paid to assessing the negative impact of pollutants on public health. A separate section of the lecture focused on plastic pollution of natural environments and modern approaches to minimizing its adverse effects. The materials were structured in accordance with SDG 12. «Responsible Consumption and Production» and SDG 4. «Quality Education». The lecture generated significant interest among the audience. After the completion of the lecture, the participants proceeded to complete the independent assignments that had been provided in advance as part of the course curriculum.

#WinterSchool #UNESCO #SustainableDevelopment #SDG12 #SDG4 #WasteManagement #EnvironmentalProtection #ZeroWaste