The Almaty Air Initiative Foundation has presented the findings of the first independent survey examining Almaty residents’ perceptions of air quality. The results show that air pollution is a concern for the majority of residents. More than half (57%) believe that air quality has deteriorated over the past two to three years. Four in ten respondents described the air quality in their neighborhood as poor or very poor.

Air pollution is having a serious impact on residents’ health

Residents reported experiencing:

— Headaches and fatigue (41%)
— Breathing difficulties (35%)
— Allergies (34%)

The survey found that 66% of respondents consider air pollution very dangerous for children, while 45% believe it poses the same level of risk to adults.

The study revealed low public awareness of how to check air quality

Three in four Almaty residents (74% of respondents) do not know how to check air quality in their neighborhood. Among younger respondents aged 18–24 and people over the age of 55, this figure reaches approximately 80%. This highlights the need for better environmental education and greater public awareness. According to the survey, among residents who are familiar with at least one way of assessing air quality, 40% rely on their own senses, such as smell or visibility. Social media and online forums rank second (25%), while 23% use dedicated mobile apps such as AirVisual. Fewer residents obtain air quality information from websites (22%), home air quality monitors (9%), or data provided by city authorities (7%).

Almaty residents have differing views on the effectiveness of measures being taken to improve the city’s environmental situation. Six in ten respondents believe that the authorities’ current efforts to improve air quality have not yet produced the expected results. More than half (55%) tend not to trust official statements by government authorities on the issue.

Air quality is also becoming an important factor influencing residents’ decisions about whether to remain in the city. According to the survey, 17% of respondents are seriously considering moving away from Almaty because of poor air quality. This means that almost one in six Almaty residents is considering relocating.

Among higher-income residents earning more than KZT 600,000 per month, the proportion considering relocation is significantly higher, at 35%. In other words, approximately one in three people in this income group is prepared to leave the city.Entrepreneurs and families with children are particularly concerned: one in four entrepreneurs and up to 26% of parents are considering relocation, compared with just 13% of respondents who do not have children under the age of 18.

Notably, a significant proportion of Almaty residents (45%) would be willing to temporarily leave the city during the winter months if they had the opportunity to do so.

When asked about precautions they take on days with severe air pollution, 32% said they take no measures at all, while 20% use air purifiers and 18% wear masks. Around one in three residents tends to limit time spent outdoors on such days.

Among the ideas proposed by respondents for improving air quality, we identified the five most popular solutions: expanding green spaces; developing public transport, including environmentally friendly buses and trams; converting combined heat and power plants to gas; strengthening oversight of construction activities and limiting high-rise development; and reducing car use.

When asked about specific measures to improve air quality, 58% of respondents believe that reducing vehicle emissions could significantly improve air quality in the city, while 56% support creating more parks and green spaces. Residents also support measures such as converting combined heat and power plants to gas (49%), developing public transport (42%), and reducing emissions from industrial facilities (40%).

The Almaty Air Initiative Foundation’s study found that air pollution in Almaty is associated with serious health concerns among residents, is widely perceived as a clear threat to children’s health, contributes to distrust of the authorities, and influences residents’ intentions to relocate. One in six residents is considering moving because of poor environmental conditions, and this figure is even higher among higher-income households, entrepreneurs, and parents of children under 18. This contributes to brain drain and causes significant economic losses for the country. Limited public awareness of how to monitor air quality further highlights the need for urgent measures to improve the environmental situation and increase public awareness.

* Research methodology: The survey was conducted from July 31 to August 19, 2024. A total of 1,000 people aged 18 and over from all districts of Almaty were surveyed.

The full report and additional data are available upon request.