Kazakh Capital Astana Gains New Status

Astana has become the first city in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to obtain an international certificate of ISO 37120:2018 Sustainable cities and communities - Indicators for city services and quality of life, according to the city's akimat, The Caspian Post reports citing Kazinform.

The silver level certification serves to confirm that the Kazakh capital can be rightly considered one of the world leaders in sustainable urban development.

The certification was conducted by the World Council on City Data (WCCD), the sole city certification body in the world. Astana was subjected to a comprehensive evaluation based on 128 indicators encompassing 19 pivotal domains, including economy, education, health, safety, transportation, and other crucial areas. The assessment highlighted notable strengths in the domains of economy, ecology, and safety, which substantiates the effective implementation of resource management and urban planning strategies.

The ISO 37120 standard was developed in 2014 and updated in 2018. It is now adopted by more than 140 metropolises around the world, including Los Angeles, London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Warsaw, and more. Astana has now become the latest addition to this standard.

The new status of 'sustainable city' presents a significant opportunity for Astana to advance its tourism sector, attract international investment, reinforce its global partnerships, and implement cutting-edge infrastructure projects. This achievement aligns with the city's next objective of attaining ISO 37122 certification for smart cities.

Recall that over one million tourists have visited Astana since the beginning of the year