Almaty Air Initiative has presented the results of its second consecutive annual survey examining how Almaty residents perceive air quality. The study shows that public concern is growing, trust is declining, and air quality remains one of the city’s key challenges.

The survey revealed a concerning trend: one in four Almaty residents (25%) is considering moving away from the city because of environmental conditions. A year earlier, the figure was 17%. Among higher-income residents, the proportion is even higher.

Key findings from Almaty Air Initiative’s second annual survey on perceptions of air quality:

— One in three residents experiences smog every day. The most commonly reported signs of air pollution are smog and haze, the smell of burning or vehicle exhaust, dust and dirt, allergies, and breathing problems. On days with severe air pollution, 35% of residents take no protective measures, 31% stay at home, and 23% use air purifiers. The higher a person’s level of education and income, the more likely they are to take protective measures.

— Concern is growing: 63% of Almaty residents said air pollution is a major concern for them. In 2024, the figure was 55%.

— Residents believe air quality is getting worse. The share of residents dissatisfied with air quality increased from 42% in 2024 to 50% in 2025. One in two residents rates air quality as poor, while only 14% consider it good. Six in ten Almaty residents believe air quality has deteriorated over the past two to three years.

— More residents are considering moving away: one in four Almaty residents (25%) is seriously considering leaving the city because of environmental conditions. In 2024, the figure was 17%. Among residents earning more than KZT 1 million per month, 41% have seriously considered relocating.

— The impact on health is clear: 80% of residents feel the effects of polluted air. The most common complaints are fatigue, headaches, and allergies. While 74% of respondents believe air pollution is dangerous for adults, 87% consider it dangerous for children.

— Almost half of Almaty residents (49%) would like to leave the city during winter because of smog. A year earlier, the figure was 45%. Another 12% already leave the city every winter to protect themselves from air pollution. The overwhelming majority of those who leave report experiencing headaches, fatigue, allergies, and breathing problems.

— According to respondents, transport is the main source of air pollution. It is followed by combined heat and power plants (CHPs) and natural factors, including disruptions to natural wind circulation.

— Awareness is increasing: 18% of residents now know where they can check air quality, compared with 10% in 2024. At the same time, 39% of residents still assess air quality based on smell or visible smog.

— Trust in government authorities: 63% of residents consider the measures currently being taken to improve air quality ineffective, while 53% are skeptical of official statements on the issue.

— Priority measures: Almaty residents expect the authorities to reduce vehicle emissions (57%), convert CHPs to gas (52%), and expand green spaces (54%).

— Awareness of ongoing initiatives remains low: 61% of respondents were unable to name a single specific measure aimed at improving air quality. Residents who were more familiar with the issue most frequently mentioned low-emission zones, the purchase of air purifiers, conversion of CHPs to gas, the development of electric transport and transition to gas, as well as initiatives such as Taza Kazakhstan, Almaty Air Initiative, and others.

Zhuldyz Saulebekova, Executive Director of Almaty Air Initiative:

“We have begun systematically studying how residents perceive air quality. Last year, we established a baseline, and now we will track changes annually. We can already see that public awareness is growing: more people know where they can check air quality. We believe this is linked to the broad and active media coverage of air quality over the past year. The work of Almaty Air Initiative, plans to introduce low-emission zones, and the approaching deadline for converting CHPs to gas have also contributed to this.

At the same time, there are concerning signs: residents are becoming increasingly worried about environmental conditions, and more people are considering leaving the city. This is a clear signal that action cannot be delayed.”

The full study is available on the official Almaty Air Initiative website at the following link:

https://air.org.kz/ru/research/kak-almatintsy-vidyat-smog-rezultaty-ezhegodnogo-issledovaniya-almaty-air-initiative/