Kazakh President Calls For Large-Scale National Environmental Campaign

By Amit Kumar Tiwari:

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for Taza Kazakhstan, a large-scale national environmental campaign, which became one of the most remarkable social movements in the country. Earlier, he emphasized the importance of coordination, professional ethics, and unwavering commitment to Kazakhstan's sovereignty. Now, his primary goal is not only to revamp the ecological situation, but also to promote environmentally responsible thinking, patriotism, and a sense of caring for nature.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 767 events have been held nationwide, including campaigns such as Taza kasip–taza aimak (Clean production for a clean region), Kieli meken (protection of natural and sacred sites), Taza olke (general territory cleaning), and Moldir bulak (preservation of springs and reservoirs). These initiatives have mobilized hundreds of thousands of citizens and strengthened cooperation between state bodies, businesses, students, and volunteers. According to official figures, since the start of Taza Kazakhstan, more than 1.6 million tons of waste have been collected, and 859,000 hectares of land have been cleaned.

The initiative has already gathered more than 10.4 million people across Kazakhstan. People from all fields are actively participating in these clean-up campaigns, tree planting, and environmental awareness programs. Now, environmental protection has become an essential part of public life in Kazakhstan. 

In October 2024, the government adopted a resolution approving the Taza Kazakhstan concept for the development of environmental culture for 2024–2029. This strategic document sets out the state’s priorities in promoting ecological values and defines concrete measures to foster sustainable development.

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev stated that the notion focuses on promoting environmental awareness, introducing incentives for responsible lifestyles, strengthening ecological education, and ensuring broad public awareness of environmental problems. A comprehensive action plan provides for landscaping, eco-volunteer initiatives, environmental competitions, and regional adaptation of projects to local needs.

Kazakhstan generates more than 4.5 million tons of municipal waste annually, while the recycling rate in 2024 stood at 25.8%. To address this, eco-boxes and reverse vending machines are being introduced in major cities such as Astana, Almaty, Aktobe, and Ust-Kamenogorsk. These technologies encourage citizens to return plastic and aluminum for bonuses, thus promoting recycling. The initiative also prioritizes reforestation and improving Kazakhstan’s forest cover. More than 1.3 billion seedlings have been planted, including 48.7 million saxaul on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea. A new forest nursery in Kazalinsk, with a capacity of three million seedlings annually, has been launched, and further projects are under development to restore degraded lands.

The president also stressed large-scale transformations, such as constitutional reform and a transition to a new political system in the country. The authorities also focus on strengthening the rule of law while aligning governance with digital transformation as Kazakhstan reshapes its constitutional and institutional framework.