Kazakhstan's Green Strategy: Keeping the Steppe Green

The government of the Republic of Kazakhstan aims to become carbon neutral by 2060. However, this goal, among other climate protection initiatives Astana is carrying out, does not occur in a vacuum. Kazakhstan has a history of environmental degradation dating back to the Soviet era; a case in point is the loss of the Aral Sea, which Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan share. This analysis aims to contribute to the literature on climate change and environmental protection in Central Asia. Kazakhstan will be the focus of this analysis due to the various environmental concerns it faces and the environmental protection projects the country is engaged in. The Central Asian state cannot escape or avoid the effects of climate change and global warming. For example, the country faced a dramatic drought in the summer of 2021, which severely affected its cattle and agricultural industries. These types of extreme weather events will continue for the foreseeable future. The Central Asian country is known for its steppe, and keeping Kazakhstan's steppe green and the country's water bodies blue is a long-term, complex project. To address these challenges, a comprehensive domestic green strategy and a "green multivector foreign policy" must be developed.