Arslan Kussayin | 29.09.2025
Why Kazakhstan’s Heavy Air Pollution is also An Economic Problem that is Straining
Pottential Growth
Air pollution in Kazakhstan is not just about the environment. It’s something people have to struggle with everyday, and it has massive consequences not only for health but also for the economy and this is how.
In Almaty, the problem is hard to miss. Winters are long, heating mostly depends on coal, and the growing number of cars on the road only makes the air worse. All of these things link to the danger from the fine particles PM2.5. These are microscopic molecules that can slip deep into your lungs and even reach the bloodstream. You don’t see them, but over time they leave cracks behind.
For the people living in Almaty, this is not an abstract idea. Every winter without fail the smog hangs over the city like a blanket. You could feel it in your throat, see it in the way the sky loses its color, and hear it when people start coughing more and more. Doctors and experts stated that cardiovascular diseases such as: asthma, heart disease, and even strokes are becoming more common and frequent with each year. This results in more hospital visits, more medicine, and more lost working hours which all cost the country's economic performance. In the end, it doesn't just cause harm to the people but also to the whole economy of Kazakhstan.
And the statistics don't just support this, they confirm this. As one example, of the many the World Bank reported an estimate that Kazakhstan loses tens of billions of dollars every year because of health complications caused and/or related to pollution. That is money that could have gone into building new schools, improving infrastructure, or supporting struggling businesses. Instead it is drained away because hundreds of thousands of people get sick from the very air they breathe daily. In Almaty alone, PM2.5 levels in winter are about seven times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit, especially during the colder months.
Not only does air quality cost Kazakhstan in treatment bills but it also suffocates productivity of workers. As workers contract health complications from the toxic air, they physically cannot perform at their best level. This results in companies facing higher costs, from either covering sick leave or from losing specialized workers. In a country like Kazakhstan, where economic growth frequently depends on industries that rely and depend on a strong workforce, this becomes a serious obstacle for economic growth. Clean air in a way becomes just as important for growth as investment or trade.
And then there is tourism to add on top of everything else. Almaty is a beautiful mountainscape anywhere you look and could potentially attract visitors from around the world. However the thick layer of smog that hangs over the city in winter does not make for good photos or for good experiences. Tourists do notice, and it shapes their impressions. If Kazakhstan wants to present itself as a modern and open country, improving air quality is not only about protecting health, but also about reputation, opportunities and is needed for a brighter future for it.
Of course, tackling this challenge is not something that can be done overnight. Coal is still the cheapest source of energy and as a developing country it needs maximum utility at the lowest cost. Additionally many families rely on it to keep warm during extreme winters. Furthermore cars are often 10-20 years old and run on poor quality fuel. At the same time, people need cheaper and more affordable options while Kazakhstan is still not an HIC. Clean energy, better public transport, and improving environmental issues require large investments, but the cost of doing nothing may be even higher for future generations and the future of Kazakhstan .
To summarize, air pollution in Kazakhstan is more than just an environmental issue it affects countless factors of general life and wellbeing of Kazakhstan's locals, including but not limited to: health, productivity, and the country’s future growth in a better direction. In Almaty, the thick smog makes it crystal clear how coal-based heating and the high amount of old fuel inefficient cars bring hidden costs beyond dirty air. Costs that show up in hospital bills, lost working hours, and even in opportunities Almaty and Kazakhstan as a whole misses out on. At the same time, solving the challenge shouldn’t be seen as a burden. Cleaner energy and stronger rules might seem expensive, not worth the effort and time now, but they save far more in the long run by lowering healthcare spending and helping people stay healthy and productive. It also matters for how Kazakhstan as a whole country is seen by others. A city covered in haze and smog is less appealing to tourists, investors, young people choosing where to live, and anything that can positively influence the country. While a cleaner smog free skyline would raise the overall quality of life. Sticking with coal might seem cheaper in the short run, but it only keeps the cycle of illness and lost income going.
Sources:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/03/28/cost-effective-air-quality-management-in-kazakhstan
https://arnika.org/en/news/kazakhstan-s-air-pollution-new-study-culprits-dirty-industry
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350003502_Air_Quality_and_Industrial_Emissions_in_the_Cities_of_Kazakhstan
In Almaty, the problem is hard to miss. Winters are long, heating mostly depends on coal, and the growing number of cars on the road only makes the air worse. All of these things link to the danger from the fine particles PM2.5. These are microscopic molecules that can slip deep into your lungs and even reach the bloodstream. You don’t see them, but over time they leave cracks behind.
For the people living in Almaty, this is not an abstract idea. Every winter without fail the smog hangs over the city like a blanket. You could feel it in your throat, see it in the way the sky loses its color, and hear it when people start coughing more and more. Doctors and experts stated that cardiovascular diseases such as: asthma, heart disease, and even strokes are becoming more common and frequent with each year. This results in more hospital visits, more medicine, and more lost working hours which all cost the country's economic performance. In the end, it doesn't just cause harm to the people but also to the whole economy of Kazakhstan.
And the statistics don't just support this, they confirm this. As one example, of the many the World Bank reported an estimate that Kazakhstan loses tens of billions of dollars every year because of health complications caused and/or related to pollution. That is money that could have gone into building new schools, improving infrastructure, or supporting struggling businesses. Instead it is drained away because hundreds of thousands of people get sick from the very air they breathe daily. In Almaty alone, PM2.5 levels in winter are about seven times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit, especially during the colder months.
Not only does air quality cost Kazakhstan in treatment bills but it also suffocates productivity of workers. As workers contract health complications from the toxic air, they physically cannot perform at their best level. This results in companies facing higher costs, from either covering sick leave or from losing specialized workers. In a country like Kazakhstan, where economic growth frequently depends on industries that rely and depend on a strong workforce, this becomes a serious obstacle for economic growth. Clean air in a way becomes just as important for growth as investment or trade.
And then there is tourism to add on top of everything else. Almaty is a beautiful mountainscape anywhere you look and could potentially attract visitors from around the world. However the thick layer of smog that hangs over the city in winter does not make for good photos or for good experiences. Tourists do notice, and it shapes their impressions. If Kazakhstan wants to present itself as a modern and open country, improving air quality is not only about protecting health, but also about reputation, opportunities and is needed for a brighter future for it.
Of course, tackling this challenge is not something that can be done overnight. Coal is still the cheapest source of energy and as a developing country it needs maximum utility at the lowest cost. Additionally many families rely on it to keep warm during extreme winters. Furthermore cars are often 10-20 years old and run on poor quality fuel. At the same time, people need cheaper and more affordable options while Kazakhstan is still not an HIC. Clean energy, better public transport, and improving environmental issues require large investments, but the cost of doing nothing may be even higher for future generations and the future of Kazakhstan .
To summarize, air pollution in Kazakhstan is more than just an environmental issue it affects countless factors of general life and wellbeing of Kazakhstan's locals, including but not limited to: health, productivity, and the country’s future growth in a better direction. In Almaty, the thick smog makes it crystal clear how coal-based heating and the high amount of old fuel inefficient cars bring hidden costs beyond dirty air. Costs that show up in hospital bills, lost working hours, and even in opportunities Almaty and Kazakhstan as a whole misses out on. At the same time, solving the challenge shouldn’t be seen as a burden. Cleaner energy and stronger rules might seem expensive, not worth the effort and time now, but they save far more in the long run by lowering healthcare spending and helping people stay healthy and productive. It also matters for how Kazakhstan as a whole country is seen by others. A city covered in haze and smog is less appealing to tourists, investors, young people choosing where to live, and anything that can positively influence the country. While a cleaner smog free skyline would raise the overall quality of life. Sticking with coal might seem cheaper in the short run, but it only keeps the cycle of illness and lost income going.
Sources:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/03/28/cost-effective-air-quality-management-in-kazakhstan
https://arnika.org/en/news/kazakhstan-s-air-pollution-new-study-culprits-dirty-industry
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350003502_Air_Quality_and_Industrial_Emissions_in_the_Cities_of_Kazakhstan
