On July 30, 2025, a meeting of the city public council was held in Shymkent, where the key topic was the formation of a comfortable urban environment and the protection of the ecology of the metropolis. Representatives of the Department for the Development of a Comfortable Environment presented a report on the work done and shared plans for the near future, paying special attention to landscaping, greening and improving infrastructure.

In recent years, Shymkent has demonstrated high rates of urbanization: the number of residential complexes is growing, the transport load and the volume of household waste are increasing. All this inevitably affects the state of the urban ecosystem. Therefore, the main goal of the Department and related structures is not only aesthetic improvement, but also long-term environmental sustainability. In their report, representatives of the department noted that since the beginning of the year, more than 20 thousand trees and shrubs have been planted in the city, new flower beds and lawns have been created, work has been carried out on sanitary cleaning of streets and systematic washing of ditches and canals. These measures are aimed at improving air quality and reducing the impact of summer heat.

The members of the public council actively joined the discussion, proposing a number of initiatives aimed at raising the environmental culture of residents. They emphasized that the cleanliness of the city and the preservation of green areas depend not only on public utilities, but also on the citizens themselves. Among the proposals are holding additional clean-up days, organizing competitions for young people on the topic "Clean Yard - Clean City", installing additional bins for separate waste collection and developing a waste recycling system. The public activists also expressed their opinion on the need to strengthen control over construction sites, which often become a source of dust and garbage.

Comparing the situation with previous years, the participants noted that the improvement and landscaping work has become more systematic and covers not only the city center, but also remote areas. In 2023, the main focus was on central streets and parks, while the outskirts of the city received a minimal amount of work. In 2024, the practice was expanded: active tree planting began in the Kaitpas, Tassay and Kyzylzhar microdistricts, new squares and flower areas were equipped. In 2025, the emphasis is on an integrated approach: in parallel with landscaping, automated night watering technologies are being introduced, which allows saving water and maintaining the viability of plantings in hot climates.

The impact of these measures on the urban ecosystem is obvious. Green spaces reduce air temperature, trap dust and absorb carbon dioxide. Clean irrigation ditches and canals ensure normal water flow and prevent stagnation, which reduces the risk of insect breeding and the appearance of unpleasant odors. The development of green areas creates a favorable environment for birds and beneficial insects, maintaining biological diversity within the city. Thus, each planted bush or cleared section of the bank brings not only aesthetic but also practical environmental benefits.

The meeting also discussed issues of rational use of resources. Council members approved the introduction of a "smart irrigation" system, which will allow monitoring water consumption and the movement of irrigation equipment in real time. This approach not only reduces costs, but also forms a responsible attitude to natural resources. In addition, proposals were made to expand the network of surveillance cameras in the coastal areas of canals and rivers in order to minimize cases of illegal dumping of garbage.

An important part of the discussion was the topic of developing an environmental culture. Representatives of youth organizations emphasized that the participation of city residents in preserving the urban environment is the key to long-term results. Examples from previous years show that joint clean-up days and educational campaigns have a noticeable effect. In 2024, as part of the Clean City campaign, more than 1,200 residents took part in the events, over 50 tons of garbage were collected, and the number of complaints about unsanitary conditions in residential areas decreased by almost a third.

Summing up the meeting, the public council and representatives of city services identified several priority areas of work. Among them are increasing the area of green spaces, introducing water-saving technologies, regularly cleaning water bodies, developing a system of separate waste collection and recycling, as well as holding educational events to form a responsible attitude towards the environment among city residents.

Thus, the meeting of the public council held on July 30 showed that ecology and the creation of a comfortable urban environment are becoming a strategic priority for Shymkent. If the proposed measures are implemented in full, the city will receive a long-term effect: a decrease in pollution, an improvement in the microclimate, an increase in biodiversity and an increase in the quality of life of citizens. A clean and green environment will not only be a symbol of care for nature, but also a factor increasing the attractiveness of Shymkent as a modern and environmentally responsible metropolis.