Kazakhstan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Earthquakes

Central Asia Remains Highly Vulnerable to Major Earthquakes

Earthquakes accounted for more than half of all deaths linked to natural hazards worldwide between 2000 and 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency warns that millions of people across its European Region still live or receive medical treatment in buildings that may not withstand a major seismic event. WHO has focused on hospitals because they must continue treating patients when injuries rise and local infrastructure is damaged. The agency estimates that earthquake-resistant standards add less than 4% to the cost of a new hospital, while retrofitting an existing facility typically costs about 1% of its value. Although WHO highlighted the danger facing Istanbul, the warning also applies to Central Asia. Nearly all of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan lie in areas of high seismic hazard, along with parts of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Recent tremors in Almaty have brought the issue back into public view. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck 74 kilometers northeast of the city on February 17, 2026. Residents left homes and offices, although no major damage was reported. Almaty introduced its Mass Alert system in May 2024 after an earlier earthquake caused panic across the city. Forty-four people sought medical treatment, most after being injured while leaving buildings. The system is connected to 28 seismic stations and sends warnings to mobile phones through cell towers. Up to 200 minor tremors are recorded each year within an 80-kilometer radius of Almaty. Approximately 30 tectonic faults run through the city and surrounding area. Experts estimate that an earthquake measuring 9-10 points in intensity could destroy as many as 30% of local buildings, given the density of high-rise construction in vulnerable foothill districts. A major earthquake could also interrupt hospital care without causing a building to collapse. Loss of electricity or water could halt surgery and emergency treatment, while blocked roads could prevent staff from reaching medical facilities. Kazakhstan resumed mandatory earthquake drills in Almaty after the strong tremors of 2024. Medical personnel have trained with rescue workers at emergency assembly points, and the military has practiced deploying mobile hospitals. The preparations reflect concern about the condition of older buildings and the rapid expansion of high-rise development. The densely populated Fergana Valley also poses a cross-border challenge because a single earthquake could affect communities in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Damage to roads or delays at border crossings could slow medical assistance when hospitals are under pressure. WHO recommends regular emergency exercises and medical teams that can continue operating when communications fail. Hospitals also need access to essential supplies if damaged transport routes delay deliveries. Central Asia's seismic history shows the possible scale of destruction. The 1911 Kemin earthquake, estimated at magnitude 8.2, destroyed hundreds of buildings in Verny, now Almaty. A magnitude-7.3 earthquake devastated Ashgabat in 1948, and the 1966 Tashkent earthquake left more than 300,000 people homeless. Those disasters occurred before much of the region's current urban growth. Dense construction has increased the number of people exposed to seismic...

Recycling

Kazakhstan Electronic Waste Project Targets Low Recycling Rates

Discarded phones, computers, and household appliances are becoming a growing waste problem in Kazakhstan, where only a small share of old electronics is formally collected and recycled. A 2023 UN-backed report estimated that the country generated 136,100 metric tons of electronic waste in 2019. Yet company reports recorded only 1,300 metric tons, suggesting that official statistics capture only a fraction of what is thrown away. Kazakhstan has now launched a project to improve collection, recycling, and monitoring. Officially unveiled in Astana on June 30, the initiative is backed by a $5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility. It will test household collection schemes in selected cities and provide technical support to recycling companies. The same assessment estimated that 11,900 metric tons, or 8.8% of the electronic waste generated in 2019, was collected and recycled. It projects that Kazakhstan’s annual electronic waste could more than triple to 432,000 metric tons by 2050. Discarded electronic equipment often contains hazardous substances that pose risks to human health and the environment if improperly handled. At the same time, obsolete electronics contain valuable metals, such as copper and nickel, that are frequently lost when devices are disposed of instead of being recovered and recycled. Kazakhstan’s Environmental Code prohibits electronic waste from being sent to landfills and requires it to be collected separately before being transferred to specialized companies. The KazWaste industry association estimates that about 19 businesses collect or process electronic waste in the country. However, the assessment found that household collection infrastructure and recycling technology remain limited. The project, formally titled “Promoting Circularity and Resource Efficiency Across the Electronics Life Cycle,” forms part of the Global Electronics Management Program. The wider initiative is led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme and other international organizations. Ruslan Tukenov, director of the Waste Management Department at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, said “electronic waste management extends far beyond environmental policy alone,” adding that the issue also affects industrial policy and access to valuable raw materials. Vera Mustafina, executive director of the Sustainable Development Promotion Center, an environmental NGO, said the project would provide a platform for cooperation between government agencies, businesses, recyclers, importers, experts, and civil society organizations. “Such cooperation is essential if electronic waste is to become part of a modern circular economy rather than remain a hidden environmental problem,” she said. Alongside the household collection pilots, the project will help recycling companies improve sorting and safe handling, recover valuable metals, and introduce tools for identifying hazardous substances. It also aims to establish a more reliable system for tracking what happens to discarded electronics. The ministry’s announcement did not name the pilot cities, participating recyclers, or collection targets. These details should provide a clearer indication of whether the project can narrow the gap between Kazakhstan’s estimated electronic waste and the volumes recorded by its formal waste system.

Aral Sea

Kazakhstan’s Aral Geopark Under Review for UNESCO Global Status

Kazakhstan's Aral Geopark is undergoing an international assessment that could make it the country's first UNESCO Global Geopark, giving new visibility to a region long associated with the environmental collapse of the Aral Sea. Kyzylorda Region governor Murat Yergeshbayev met international experts José Brilha and Somayeh Saediyounesi, who are assessing whether the site meets UNESCO requirements, regional authorities said. The main evaluation mission will take place from July 6 to 13 and will examine the park's natural sites, infrastructure, management system, scientific potential, and efforts to preserve the region's heritage. Kazakhstan sent the official application for the Aral Geopark's inclusion in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to the organization's headquarters in November 2025. Four tourist and educational routes have also been prepared as part of the application process. UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed through a concept that combines protection, education, and sustainable development. According to UNESCO, the network currently includes 241 geoparks in 51 countries. For Kazakhstan, recognition would give the Aral region greater international visibility. The geopark is intended to preserve the region's geological, natural, historical, and cultural heritage while supporting research, tourism, and local economic development. The project is also part of wider efforts to restore the Aral region and broaden its economic base. Yergeshbayev said Kazakhstan is paying close attention at the national level to the area's recovery, including the development of the geopark as a scientific and natural site. The Aral Geopark covers a landscape shaped by the retreat of the sea. According to the geopark's official description, its sites include the Barsakelmes State Nature Reserve, the Akespe hot spring, the Zhaksykylysh salt deposits, Lake Kamystybas, mausoleums, and settlements on the former seabed. UNESCO recognition is not automatic. A territory must first operate as a geopark, prepare a full application through national structures, undergo document checks, and host a field evaluation. Recommendations are then reviewed by UNESCO bodies before a final decision by the organization's Executive Board. If approved, the Aral Geopark would become Kazakhstan's first internationally recognized global geopark. Regional authorities say the status would help raise tourist interest, expand scientific research, and improve living standards for local residents. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed in December 2025 creating a dedicated United Nations body to address global water management challenges, including the deteriorating ecological conditions of the Aral and Caspian seas. In January 2026, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed ministries to accelerate the second phase of Kazakhstan's Northern Aral Sea restoration plan. The goal is to increase the sea's volume by around 10 to 11 billion cubic meters over the next four to five years.

Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

Kazakhstan Participates in Negotiations on Global Treaty to Combat Plastic Pollution

Kazakhstan set out its approach to a planned global treaty on plastic pollution at informal talks held from June 30 to July 3 at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Kenya. Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Zhomart Aliyev led Kazakhstan’s participation in the meeting of heads of delegation to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which is developing a legally binding international agreement to combat plastic pollution. Kazakhstan's delegation presented the country’s national approaches to the key elements of the future treaty and took an active part in discussions on possible ways of bridging differences among participating states. The Nairobi discussions will result in a reference document summarizing the proposals and positions of participating countries. The document will serve as the basis for further informal consultations scheduled for September 2026 and preparations for the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, tentatively planned for March 2027. “Kazakhstan will continue to play an active role in the negotiation process, advocating the development of an effective and balanced international agreement to combat plastic pollution,” the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources said. The ministry also highlighted the successful development of the EcoQolday information system, which was launched in 2024 to digitalize waste collection and recycling processes, including plastic waste. According to the ministry, the volume of waste processed through the system has increased steadily. In 2024, 11,070 metric tons of waste were sent for recycling through EcoQolday. That figure rose to 49,340 tons in 2025, while during the first half of 2026 alone it reached 70,630 tons, reflecting both the system’s growing effectiveness and increasing business participation. Since the platform became operational in August 2024, a total of 131,040 tons of waste has been directed for recycling through EcoQolday. Paper accounted for the largest share at 92,050 tons, followed by glass at 28,860 tons. The platform has also facilitated the recycling of 8,740 tons of used tires, 1,320 tons of plastic waste, and 70 tons of composite-material waste. EcoQolday connects households and businesses with waste collectors and recycling companies. Individuals and companies submit requests to dispose of recyclable waste, while collectors provide service offers and receive government incentives for participating in the system. “Within approved budget allocations, participants in the system have received total incentive payments of $7.1 million,” the ministry said. “This included approximately $10,000 in 2024, $1.8 million in 2025, and about $5.2 million so far in 2026.” The ministry added that EcoQolday is increasingly engaging both businesses and the public. As of the reporting date, 1,081 waste disposal requests totaling 3,540.52 tons had been registered in the system. Of these, 629 requests came from individuals, who submitted 2,276.42 tons of waste for recycling, primarily glass, paper, and used tires. Another 452 requests were submitted by legal entities, accounting for 1,264.1 tons of waste, mainly paper and used tires. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, members of Kazakhstan’s parliament proposed introducing a “green” tax on environmentally unfriendly packaging last summer to help finance plastic waste recycling.

Water Security

Kyrgyzstan’s Water Compensation Push Tests Central Asian Unity

Central Asia’s water diplomacy is entering a contentious phase. Kyrgyzstan, where much of the region’s runoff is formed, is reviving calls for economic compensation from downstream users. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have rejected the idea, saying current agreements do not provide for payments for transboundary river water. The dispute comes as the region tries to maintain annual water-allocation deals while adapting agriculture to worsening scarcity and climate pressure. Water has long tied together the region’s upstream and downstream states. The 2021 and 2022 clashes on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border showed how disputes over land, border infrastructure, roads, security posts, and water access can escalate when local tensions are not contained. Yet political will alone does not guarantee agreements between countries. The Central Asian republics cooperate on water issues through two interstate bodies. One is the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, established in 1993 by all five Central Asian republics. Kyrgyzstan suspended its participation in IFAS in 2016, and now attends the fund’s meetings as an observer. The second body is the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination, whose meetings are held once a quarter. At its 93rd meeting in Bukhara in early April, the commission confirmed limits for water withdrawal from transboundary rivers, following decisions approved at the 92nd meeting in Dushanbe. For the Amu Darya, the 2026 water allocations set the total withdrawal limit for the water-management year from October 2025 to October 2026 at about 55.4 billion cubic meters. Of this, 15.9 billion cubic meters is allocated for the cold period, from October to April. Tajikistan has been allocated 9.8 billion cubic meters per year, while Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan each receive 22 billion. A significant part of the flow, 44 billion cubic meters, must pass through the adjusted section of the Kerki hydrological post, helping secure the lower reaches of the river. For the Syr Darya, the total water withdrawal limit for the non-growing season is 4.219 billion cubic meters. Kazakhstan will receive 460 million cubic meters through the Dustlik Canal, Kyrgyzstan 47 million, and Tajikistan 365 million, while the largest share will go to Uzbekistan, 3.347 billion cubic meters. The inherited framework is also facing pressure from outside the five-state system. Afghanistan’s Qosh-Tepa Canal, which is being advanced outside the Soviet-era allocation structure, has added uncertainty on the Amu Darya. The Central Asian republics also cooperate in bilateral and trilateral formats. In January, Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan joint working groups met in Turkestan. The sides reaffirmed water cooperation, agreed to continue repairs on the Dostyk canal, and planned automated hydrological posts on the Syr Darya. In May, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan agreed on the operating regime of the Bahri-Tojik Reservoir for the summer of 2026. From June to August, the reservoir is to operate in a coordinated mode to supply irrigation water to farmers in the Maktaaral and Zhetysai districts of southern Kazakhstan. These agreements show that regional mechanisms still work, but experts continue to warn that climate pressure, data gaps, and uneven national interests could overwhelm existing formats. “Forecasting the...

Water Security

New Study Finds Sharp Decline in Amu Darya Flows

Central Asia’s water woes continue to grow worse. The water flow in the Amu Darya, one of Central Asia’s two great rivers, is slowly but significantly diminishing in Tajikistan, where the river originates. A recently released report shows the Amu Darya’s water flow in the middle and lower reaches in Tajikistan has fallen over the course of recent decades by 54-77%. And the report lays the blame firmly on human activity, not climate change. Up In the Mountains of Tajikistan The study published on ScienceDirect looked at data collected over 90 years and concludes that “streamflow decreased by 54–77% in the middle and lower reaches” of the Amu Darya in Tajikistan. Interestingly, the report mentions that precipitation in the mountains of Tajikistan has actually increased between 6 and 13%, but the Amu Darya’s water level is falling because people are using more water. The expansion of agriculture is the reason, accounting for 92% of the water reduction in Tajikistan, but the recent construction of water reservoirs is also playing a role. Lower flows of water were noted on many of the tributaries in Tajikistan that feed into the Amu Darya, including the “Vakhsh, Kunduz, Kofirnihon, Surkhandarya, Zeravshan, and Kashkadarya (rivers),” which showed streamflow reductions of 4–34%. The report said that areas in the upper reaches of the Amu Darya should see increased water levels, but this is mainly due to climate change hastening the melting of snow and glaciers. Once the glaciers are gone, the water will rapidly decrease. Bad News Downstream Water problems upstream in Tajikistan translate to bigger problems downstream in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Both have already noticed a reduction in the amount of water in the Amu Darya, most visibly that the river has not reached the Aral Sea for about two decades now, contributing to the sea shrinking by some 90% since the 1960s. Every year the river recedes further south, forcing downstream communities suddenly without water to relocate. Climate change is now hastening this process in the arid, desert lands along the Uzbek-Turkmen border, but both countries are preparing for a bigger, impending shock. The Taliban started construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal in 2022, with the project scheduled to be completed in 2028. While Central Asia was liberally taking water from the Amu Darya for agricultural use, Afghanistan was in no position to claim its share until now. The canal will draw water from the Amu Darya at an area across from Uzbekistan and open up new agricultural land in northern Afghanistan, where food has long been in short supply. The 280-kilometer canal is expected to take some 16-20% of the water left in the Amu Darya after it leaves Tajikistan. Upstream Tajikistan’s falling water levels, of course, mean the Qosh Tepa Canal will also be receiving less and less water. The Combination For most of the 2020s, large areas of Central Asia have been experiencing droughts, prompting the governments there to implement water conservation measures. But as they find more ways to save...