On September 16, the Almaty Air Initiative team participated in the Third Central Asia–Europe Regional Forum on Decarbonization in Astana.

Organized by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the GIZ Hydrogen Diplomacy Office in Astana, the forum brought together representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and the expert community to discuss the region’s energy transition.

During the panel discussion “The Role of Coal in Kazakhstan’s Decarbonization,” Almaty Air Initiative Executive Director Zhuldyz Saulebekova highlighted the hidden cost of coal — air pollution and its consequences for human health.

Kazakhstan faces the challenge of increasing electricity generation while simultaneously moving toward carbon neutrality. Therefore, discussions about the energy transition must consider not only economic factors and energy security, but also how the decisions being made will affect air quality and public health.