Almost every winter, practically across the entire territory of Almaty, including the so-called upper districts of the city, sensors recorded levels of air pollution from 'unhealthy' to 'very dangerous' Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, with the highest readings of PM2.5 particles.

Numerous studies have proven that fine PM2.5 particulate matter inflicts the most severe harm to the human body, affecting the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems. According to WHO estimates, their impact causes the premature death of 7 million people annually due to acute and chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, upper gastrointestinal and respiratory tract diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, among others. Air pollution significantly increases the risk of allergies and respiratory diseases.

As is known, the main sources of atmospheric air pollution in Almaty are motor vehicles, energy companies, and the non-gasified private sector. Smog is influenced by meteorological conditions, lack of wind, and the city's location itself.

According to the data from the Almaty city administration, 99 percent of the private sector is gasified, but the connection of households to gas networks is hindered by the absence of requirements and incentives from the city authorities. Restrictions on motor vehicles as one of the possible solutions to the problem could create risks for the functioning of the city's economy due to the absence of a developed public transport system sufficient to serve the needs of the citizens. The decision to convert the thermal power plants to natural gas has been made, but the construction of a new station will take years, during which the health of Almaty residents will continue to be at risk every day during the heating season.

The city needs to take urgent measures to protect the population from the effects of dirty air. This is the direct responsibility of the local executive authorities towards the citizens and should be the top priority for the administration.

The first measure should be the public political recognition of the critical level of pollution as an immediate threat to the citizens. All residents should be timely informed about the critical level of harmful substance concentration in the air through mass SMS distribution, similar to emergency alerts with recommendations to transfer employees to remote work and individual health protection measures against the detrimental effects of polluted air.

Secondly, it is urgently required to install modern electrostatic precipitators on the existing equipment during the gasification of TEC-2 and TEC-3 for more effective capture of combustion product particles – solid fuel.

Thirdly, it is necessary to introduce a complete ban on the use of solid fuels in gasified areas, to significantly ease bureaucratic procedures for connecting households, and to develop several accessible schemes for subsidizing the purchase and installation of gas equipment (from a one-time coverage of 50% of the cost and interest-free installment over 20 years to full coverage of costs for socially vulnerable layers) with the goal of completing connections in 2023 and introducing administrative responsibility for the use of solid fuels from 2024.

Fourthly, consider the possibility of gradually converting multi-apartment residential buildings to gas heating with individual fuel consumption meters, as well as the use of energy-saving technologies and alternative energy sources. This work can be started with new residential projects and gradually, using various schemes of state subsidizing and green investments (green bonds), spread to the existing housing stock. The city's master plan should clearly delineate the boundaries of the territory to be developed to prevent further sprawl of the city and encourage its compactness.