Almaty Air Initiative (AAI) is a privately funded environmental foundation launched in 2024 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to address the city’s severe air pollution challenges.

The initiative was founded by entrepreneurs Arsen Tomsky and Kairat Akhmetov and focuses on improving urban air quality through data transparency, public awareness, and applied research. AAI operates as a coordination platform that brings together experts, businesses, public authorities, and citizens to develop practical, evidence-based solutions.

The main declared goal of AAI is to restore for the residents of Almaty their right to clean air, understood not as a privilege but as a fundamental human right. The project is rooted in the recognition of environmental and social injustice and seeks to make access to clean air universal, sustainable, and institutionally protected. AAI is aimed not only at improving the environmental situation but also at shaping a new culture of public participation and responsibility.

Key activities include building a citywide air quality monitoring system, creating an online data dashboard, producing media content to raise awareness, and contributing to policy discussions on environmental regulation. Through partnerships with universities, private sector sponsors, and the Almaty city administration, AAI promotes collaboration and innovation in tackling air pollution. The initiative aims not only to improve environmental conditions but also to advance environmental justice by ensuring equal access to clean air for all residents.

Overall, AAI represents an entrepreneur-driven effort to foster sustainable urban development and strengthen public engagement in environmental governance.