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Sustainability
Volume 17
Issue 24
10.3390/su172411317
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Article

ESG Practices and Air Emissions Reduction in the Oil and Gas Industry: Empirical Evidence from Kazakhstan

by
Ainagul Adambekova
1,
Saken Kozhagulov
2,*,
Vitaliy Salnikov
2,
Jose Carlos Quadrado
3,
Svetlana Polyakova
2,
Rassima Salimbayeva
4,
Aina Rysmagambetova
2,
Gulnur Musralinova
2 and
Ainur Tanybayeva
2
1
Higher School of Economics and Business, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Kazakhstan, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
2
Faculty of Geography and Environmental Science, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Kazakhstan, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
3
Electric Engineering Department, Lisbon Polytechnic Institute (IPL), 1959-007 Lisbon, Portugal
4
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Narxoz University, Almaty 050035, Kazakhstan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411317
Submission received: 3 November 2025 / Revised: 29 November 2025 / Accepted: 9 December 2025 / Published: 17 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)
Versions Notes

Abstract

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 in 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.
Keywords: air pollution; ESG strategy; sustainable development; energy efficiency; best available techniques; corporate social responsibility air pollution; ESG strategy; sustainable development; energy efficiency; best available techniques; corporate social responsibility

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MDPI and ACS Style

Adambekova, A.; Kozhagulov, S.; Salnikov, V.; Quadrado, J.C.; Polyakova, S.; Salimbayeva, R.; Rysmagambetova, A.; Musralinova, G.; Tanybayeva, A. ESG Practices and Air Emissions Reduction in the Oil and Gas Industry: Empirical Evidence from Kazakhstan. Sustainability 2025, 17, 11317. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411317

AMA Style

Adambekova A, Kozhagulov S, Salnikov V, Quadrado JC, Polyakova S, Salimbayeva R, Rysmagambetova A, Musralinova G, Tanybayeva A. ESG Practices and Air Emissions Reduction in the Oil and Gas Industry: Empirical Evidence from Kazakhstan. Sustainability. 2025; 17(24):11317. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411317

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adambekova, Ainagul, Saken Kozhagulov, Vitaliy Salnikov, Jose Carlos Quadrado, Svetlana Polyakova, Rassima Salimbayeva, Aina Rysmagambetova, Gulnur Musralinova, and Ainur Tanybayeva. 2025. "ESG Practices and Air Emissions Reduction in the Oil and Gas Industry: Empirical Evidence from Kazakhstan" Sustainability 17, no. 24: 11317. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411317

APA Style

Adambekova, A., Kozhagulov, S., Salnikov, V., Quadrado, J. C., Polyakova, S., Salimbayeva, R., Rysmagambetova, A., Musralinova, G., & Tanybayeva, A. (2025). ESG Practices and Air Emissions Reduction in the Oil and Gas Industry: Empirical Evidence from Kazakhstan. Sustainability, 17(24), 11317. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411317

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