On May 28, 2026, the Annual General Meeting of PRME Chapter Eurasia was held in Almaty at the Narxoz Business School, bringing together business schools and educational organizations that implement the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education. During the event, Green Urban Association Chairwoman Yulia Yakupbaeva presented the Association’s activities and key sustainable development projects.
Special attention during the presentation was given to the new Smart Water Zone project, aimed at assessing and reducing the water footprint of organizations. The initiative is based on international Water Stewardship approaches and helps companies analyze the efficiency of their water resource use, identify opportunities for reducing water consumption, and implement best practices in sustainable water management.
Yulia Yakupbaeva noted that water resource management is becoming one of the most significant areas of the ESG agenda for business. In this context, the Green Urban Association is building a platform for sharing experience and implementing practical solutions aimed at responsible water resource use.
The 2025 results of the Smart Plastic Zone project, implemented jointly with Coca-Cola, were also presented. The project is aimed at reducing the plastic footprint of organizations and developing a culture of responsible waste management. Since its launch in 2025, approximately 80 companies from various economic sectors have joined the initiative, and the total area of participants’ facilities has exceeded 5.5 million square meters. In 2026, the project will continue to scale and expand its geographic reach.
Yulia Yakupbaeva emphasized that the Green Urban Association works across 11 areas, including sustainable urban development, urban studies, Smart City, green education, urban health, sustainable tourism, and the circular economy:
“We are not a traditional association that lobbies for legislative changes and government support measures. We bring together representatives of business, government agencies, the academic community, and the expert environment to implement practical projects aimed at improving the quality of the urban environment and achieving sustainable development goals. Our motto is ‘Business for Cities. Cities for Life.”
The Green Urban Association invites companies from all sectors to join the Smart Water Zone and Smart Plastic Zone projects. Participation in these initiatives allows companies to implement practical ESG solutions, reduce their environmental footprint, and contribute to the sustainable development of Kazakhstan’s cities.
