Due to Global Warming, Kazakhstan is Heating Up Faster than the Global Average

Global warming continues to break records – all 10 of the hottest years on record have occurred in the current century. Kazakhstan’s territory is warming at a significantly faster rate than the global average. Not only are average annual temperatures rising across the country, but the frequency of extreme natural events has also increased.

According to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), each successive decade since the 1980s has been warmer than any preceding decade since 1850. The past 20-year period, from 2005 to 2024, has been the warmest on record. Moreover, all ten of the world’s hottest years have occurred in this century. The rate of climate change due to rising surface air temperatures is not uniform across the planet. Some regions, particularly in the mid- and high-latitudes, are experiencing more intense warming.

According to Kazhydromet, Kazakhstan's territory — situated in the heart of the Eurasian continent and far from the world’s oceans — is warming at a faster pace than the global average.

A steady increase in the average annual air temperature is observed across all regions of Kazakhstan. On average, the country is experiencing a temperature rise of 0.36°C per decade. In specific regions, the rate of increase ranges from 0.26°C per decade in the Karaganda region to 0.56°C per decade in the West Kazakhstan region. In all seasons except winter, the temperature increase is statistically significant.

Over the past 48 years, Kazakhstan has also shown a slight trend of increasing annual precipitation, by about 3.3 mm per decade.

In winter, precipitation has increased primarily in the northern, western, and southeastern regions, with growth rates of 4–11% per decade. In spring, precipitation has also risen, particularly in western and northern areas – by 8 to 18% per decade. Conversely, during the summer, most of the country has seen a decrease in rainfall, with the most pronounced reductions (4–8% per decade) occurring in the western and southwestern regions. In autumn, precipitation levels have decreased almost everywhere, including in the west and southwest – by 3–11% per decade.

“Climate change is uneven across Kazakhstan’s territory, as well as across the seasons of the year. However, a common feature across most regions of our country is a sharply continental climate with high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures, low annual precipitation, and a whole 'bouquet' of hazardous hydrometeorological phenomena occurring in different seasons – heatwaves, droughts, dust storms, strong winds and rains, blizzards, floods, and water shortages,” noted Tursyn Tillakarim, Director of the Research Center at Kazhydromet.

Current statistical data shows growing global damage from hazardous weather and climate-related events. According to the WMO’s latest Comprehensive Report, over the past 50 years, the world has experienced an average of one disaster per day related to dangerous meteorological, climatic, or hydrological events.

According to monitoring data from Kazhydromet, Kazakhstan is experiencing not only higher average annual temperatures but also changes in the frequency of extreme natural events. For example, there has been a noticeable increase in the total duration of heatwaves, a rise in the number of days with temperatures above 30°C, a growing shortage of cold days, and an increase in the number of summer days with extremely high temperatures.

“Given Kazakhstan’s geographic location and vast territory, the observed climate changes in different regions of the country can have both negative and positive impacts on biophysical systems, economic activities, and the social sphere. Accounting for climate conditions and assessing their changes is essential for identifying potential consequences and implementing timely and adequate adaptation measures – ultimately to ensure Kazakhstan’s sustainable development,” summarized Tursyn Tillakarim, Director of the Research Center at Kazhydromet.