NU launched Climate Week, an annual national youth festival aimed at promoting sustainable development. The event, organised by the NU Office of Sustainable Development, the National Conservation Initiative Corporate Foundation and the NU Green Campus, brought together students and teachers from six universities of the country: KarU, SKU, VKGTU, Kokshetau University, KazATIU, Kyzylorda University and NU - about 30 people.

The festival started with lectures by NU scientists and experts on climate change from the UN Development Programme and QazaqGeography. They discussed important topics: water use, climate change impacts, biodiversity conservation and the role of youth in climate policy. The participants then got acquainted with the NU campus, visited the renewable energy landfill and the DC LAB and FAB LAB innovation labs.

The first day ended with a Climate Fresk game where participants explored the link between human activity and global warming. Students also learnt how to create eco-canvases from old clothes as part of a masterclass from NU Green Society. This project was supported by the Sustainability Living Lab (SLL) programme as well as other environmental projects created by students from 12 universities across the country. Every year at the final conference they present their developments, such as solar panels made of recycled discs and devices for cleaning water bodies from plastic, creation of a gravity generator and ozone-based household cleaning products, and many others.

The next day, the festival participants cleaned the territory of Abylai Khan Square at the foot of Kokshetau Mountain, collecting about 10 cubic metres of rubbish.

The national park also hosted events on feeding red deer and an excursion to the Botai-Burabai archeological and ethnographic museum, where students learnt about rare plants and animals, as well as about the work of forest inspectors.

The Climate Week festival organised by NU demonstrated how scientific knowledge and civic engagement can contribute to sustainable development.