Reducing Atmospheric Pollution as the Basis of a Regional Circular Economy: Evidence from Kazakhstan

Ainagul Adambekova, Saken Kozhagulov (), Jose Carlos Quadrado, Vitaliy Salnikov, Svetlana Polyakova, Tamara Tazhibayeva and Alexander Ulman
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Ainagul Adambekova: Higher School of Economics and Business, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Saken Kozhagulov: Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Jose Carlos Quadrado: Electric Engineering Department, Engineering Superior Institute of Lisbon, Polytechnical Institute of Lisbon, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
Vitaliy Salnikov: Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Svetlana Polyakova: Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Tamara Tazhibayeva: UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Alexander Ulman: Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-32

Abstract: Reducing atmospheric emissions through the introduction of circular economy principles is one of the current tasks of sustainable regional development. The purpose of this research is to study the impact of the actions taken by Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) to reduce air pollution, and, based on this, to evaluate the potential of forming a circular economy in one of the biggest regions of Kazakhstan in which KPO is operating. The air pollution in the region is related to the oil and gas production activities of the company. This study was conducted using econometric modeling and statistical and comparative analyses. This study’s value lies in its interdisciplinary approach, which made it possible to combine environmental and economic criteria for sustainable regional development with the features of emissions and waste management technologies within the industry. Studying the production activities and analyzing the impact of KPO on the development of the region in the period from 2012 to 2022 made it possible to construct a matrix of the restorative potential of a circular economy in the region. A model for the formation of a circular economy was proposed, which is based on the introduction of innovations, investments in environmental protection, and the use of the best available technologies for reinjecting gas into the reservoir, increasing energy efficiency, and recycling waste, which resulted in a significant (2.2 times) reduction in the amount of air pollution in the region. According to the forecast model (2024–2028), it was determined that, in the case of maintaining certain independent indicators’ dynamics of development, the level of atmospheric emissions by KPO could be reduced by two times. The results of this work prove that further studies on the problems associated with reducing atmospheric pollution within the framework of the formation of a circular economy are quite promising. Additionally, the results of this study are interesting and may be useful for the implementation of measures to manage air quality in the region by managers, heads of organizations, state and local authorities, and researchers interested in promoting the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) concept of sustainable development.

Keywords: air pollution; circular economy; emissions reduction; waste recycling; ESG strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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