The article presents the results of a study on the assessment of modern space–time trends of extreme values of air temperature and precipitation in 42 meteorological stations throughout Kazakhstan for the period from 1971 to 2020. Spatial and temporal analysis of the distribution of specialized climatic indices was recommended by the WMO climatology commission and an assessment of their trends was carried out. Spatial heterogeneity was revealed in terms of the degree of manifestation of changes and trends. Temperature indices are shown to confirm the overall warming trend. The division of the territory of Kazakhstan by the degree of manifestation of climate change into the southwestern and northeastern half was revealed. Extreme trends are most pronounced in the southwestern half, where a significant trend has been identified both for an increase in extremely high daytime and extremely low night temperatures. The calculated trends in temperature indices are generally significant, but the significance is mainly not ubiquitous; the trends are significant only in certain parts of Kazakhstan. WSDI and CSDI trends were found to confirm a widespread increase in the overall duration of heat waves and a reduction in the overall duration of cold waves. No significant extreme effects were found in the sediments. It is confirmed that Kazakhstan has weak, statistically insignificant, positive and negative trends in the maximum duration of the non-traveling period. Precipitation index trends, unlike temperature ones, are statistically insignificant in most of the country.

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.

Reducing atmospheric emissions through the introduction of circular economy principles is one of the current tasks of sustainable regional development. The research purpose is to study the impact of the actions taken by Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) in order to reduce air pollution, and basing on it, to evaluate the forming potential of the circulating economy in one of the biggest regions of Kazakhstan in which KPO is operating. Oil and gas production activities of the company is related to air pollution of the region. The study was conducted using methods of econometric modeling, statistical and comparative analyses. The study’s value is determined by 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 in industry. Studying the work experience and analyzing the impact of KPO on the development of the region in the period 2012-2022 made it possible to construct a matrix of the restorative potential of the circular economy of the region. A model for the formation of a circular economy is proposed, which is based on the introduction of innovations, investments in environmental protection, the use of the best available technologies for reinjecting gas into the reservoir, increasing energy efficiency, recycling of waste, which made it possible to significantly (2.2 times) reduce the amount of air pollution in region. According to the forecast model (2024-2028), it was determined that in case of maintaining independent indicators’ certain dynamic of development, the level of atmospheric emissions by KPO could be reduced by 2 times. The results of the scientific work contain statements proving that further researches on the problems of reducing atmospheric pollution within the framework of the formation of a circular economy are quite perspective and promising. The results of the study might be interesting and used when implementing measures to manage air quality in the region by managers, heads of organizations, state and local authorities, and researchers interested in promoting the ESG concept of sustainable development.

Climate change and progressive aridification represent a substantial threat to the sustainability of wild medicinal plant resources in Central Asia. Rheum tataricum L.f. (R. tataricum), a mesoxerophytic species with high pharmacological potential and a restricted distribution range, was selected as a model for investigating adaptive responses to combined climatic and edaphic stress. Relationships among climatic parameters, soil agrochemical characteristics, anatomical and morphological traits, and the metabolomic profile of roots and rhizomes were analysed across six ecopopulations distributed along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in southern and western Kazakhstan. To quantify population-level vulnerability to climatic stress, a Climate Sensitivity Index (CSI) was calculated. All investigated ecopopulations exhibited high climate sensitivity (CSI = 0.30–0.40), indicating persistent climatic stress. Significant altitudinal dependence was detected for such anatomical traits, as primary cortex thickness, as well as for the accumulation of tannins, anthraquinones, and flavonoids. The metabolomic profile was strongly associated with seasonal precipitation, temperature, relative air humidity, soil agrochemical properties, and root elemental composition. These findings demonstrate pronounced anatomical and metabolomic plasticity in R. tataricum, which appears to function as a key adaptive mechanism in arid ecosystems. The results provide a scientific basis for sustainable bioprospecting, conservation of natural populations, and targeted cultivation aimed at obtaining specific metabolomic profiles.

This study examines the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies on reducing air pollution in the West Kazakhstan region, a major hub for Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry. A spatial analysis of atmospheric emissions reveals an uneven distribution of emission sources, predominantly concentrated in the northern industrialized part of the region, where the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field is located. The ESG model of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating b.v. (KPO), implemented as an integrated management system based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, is compared with the ESG strategies of leading oil and gas companies in Kazakhstan and globally, aligning with current international research trends. The analysis underscores the interdependence of technological and social aspects in the transition to a low-carbon economy, confirming the importance of integrating the environmental, social, and governance components of ESG into a unified strategic planning framework for sustainable development. Using econometric modeling, the study establishes a relationship between ESG indicators and the reduction of atmospheric pollution and provides a forecast for emission reductions by 2030. The key measures proposed to improve regional air quality are linked to long-term decarbonization strategies within the context of the sustainable development of the entire region. The proposed algorithm for implementing ESG principles helps to identify the concentration of functions and associated risks at different management levels within Highly Polluting Enterprises (HPEs) and optimizes business processes by focusing efforts on air pollution mitigation. The findings are applicable to other countries, as oil and gas producers worldwide face a number of common air pollution challenges.