The Almaty Air Initiative Foundation held an international workshop featuring leading scientists from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) — the institution that developed and implemented China’s national air pollution control program and helped reduce PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing by 64% over a decade. The UN and the World Bank have cited Beijing’s case as a model for developing megacities. 

The workshop marked the first step in a broader program by the Foundation: Almaty Air Initiative is establishing a systematic channel for bringing international expertise to Almaty so that the city’s clean air policies are based not on assumptions, but on proven scientific approaches. The event was held with the support of the Almaty Development Center and brought together representatives of government, business, and the expert community.

Zhuldyz Saulebekova, Executive Director of the Almaty Air Initiative Foundation: 

«Almaty today faces the same challenges that China began addressing 10–15 years ago. The Beijing case has been recognized by the UN and the World Bank as one of the most successful in the world — and we brought the people behind it here to give Almaty direct access to this expertise. The workshop with CRAES was the first step toward building this kind of systematic cooperation».

CRAES experts — Quan Zhanjun, Vice President of the Academy; Zhang Gao, Deputy Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Environment; and Tao Gu, Director of the Department of Atmospheric Environment — presented an approach based on the principle of “data – policy – control – adjustment».

Key Areas Applicable to Almaty:

Transition to “Clean Heating” Instead of Coal

In China, more than 39 million households were transitioned from coal heating to cleaner energy sources, becoming one of the key factors in reducing air pollution.

Strict Differentiation of Industrial Enterprises

Enterprises are divided into categories:

  • large enterprises are required to strictly comply with standards,
  • medium-sized enterprises are modernized,
  • outdated and illegal enterprises are phased out of the market.

Transport and Diesel Emissions Control

Particular emphasis is placed on diesel transport as one of the major sources of pollution:

  • stricter standards,
  • vehicle fleet renewal,
  • shifting freight transportation from roads to rail.

Сystematic Control of Urban Dust

In China, dust is treated as a separate source of pollution and is controlled through monitoring of construction sites, open areas, and urban surfaces.

 

The experts also emphasized the need to develop a citywide air quality plan based on scientific data and the “one city, one policy” principle, under which measures are tailored to the specific profile of pollution sources in each city.

As CRAES experts noted, China follows the principle that there are no universal solutions. Each city must develop its own strategy based on the structure of its pollution sources, climatic and geographical conditions, and economic profile. To support this approach, permanent scientific teams operate in China’s largest polluted regions and are integrated into urban governance systems.

China’s experience shows that effective air pollution control is possible only when several conditions are met simultaneously:

  • accurate data and monitoring,
  • political will and a long-term strategy,
  • a combination of regulation and economic incentives,
  • continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented measures.

Almaty Air Initiative will consolidate CRAES recommendations and present a package of proposals to the city authorities in the coming months. All materials will be made publicly available — the Foundation’s goal is not only to influence policy, but also to keep residents informed about how the air they breathe is changing.