Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Air Pollution

Kyrgyzstan Confronts Transport-Driven Air Pollution

On October 21, Bishkek hosted the National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue “Tackling Transport Air Pollution in Kyrgyzstan: Towards Clean Air in Cities All Year Round.” The event gathered representatives from government bodies, international organizations, environmental NGOs, academia, and civil society. Participants discussed coordinated actions and practical solutions to reduce air pollution and improve environmental conditions in Kyrgyz cities. Key proposals included transitioning to cleaner fuels, expanding public transport, improving energy efficiency, and implementing stricter emission standards. A systemic approach was emphasized, involving the promotion of electric vehicles, public environmental education, and robust air quality monitoring. Experts warned that transport-related pollution is a leading contributor to chronic diseases and premature death, particularly among vulnerable populations. Kyrgyz Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, highlighted that while previous efforts had focused on pollution during the heating season, new World Bank analysis shows that vehicle emissions significantly impact air quality year-round in Bishkek. According to the Ministry, vehicle emissions account for roughly 30% of air pollution in the capital. In 2024, 1,674,085 vehicles were registered in Kyrgyzstan, with 83% or 1,392,737, over 15 years old. In Bishkek, 426,946 vehicles were registered, including 333,801 older than 15 years, most of which do not meet modern environmental standards. The city administration reported that more than 750,000 vehicles operate on Bishkek’s roads daily, more than double the road network’s intended capacity of 350,000. This, combined with poor fuel quality and widespread reliance on private cars, has led to a systemic environmental challenge. Mashiev outlined several initiatives to address the issue. First, the city is transitioning to environmentally friendly public transport. Over 1,300 eco-friendly buses and 120 electric buses have been delivered to Bishkek. Each new bus replaces approximately four diesel buses, cutting diesel fuel consumption by around 100 tons per day. By the end of 2024, 3,535 electric vehicles were registered in the capital, and 44 charging stations had been installed. Second, modern air quality monitoring systems are being deployed to enable more accurate and responsive pollution tracking. Third, updates to the regulatory framework are being implemented to improve emission controls and compliance mechanisms. “We have already taken concrete steps to improve air quality in Bishkek, the use of low-quality coal has been banned, large-scale greening projects are underway, and an active transition to alternative energy sources is in progress,” said Mashiev. He concluded that similar measures would be introduced in other major cities across Kyrgyzstan, including Osh and Jalal-Abad.

Reforestation

Natural Barriers: Kyrgyzstan Fights Disasters with Reforestation

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, in collaboration with representatives of the World Bank, has surveyed floodplain areas in the Jalal-Abad region to identify zones most vulnerable to erosion and flooding. The ministry's press service reported that environmental protection efforts will soon begin in these areas, aimed at strengthening soil stability and reducing the risk of natural disasters. The Forestry Institute had earlier designated the region as a pilot site for environmental initiatives. Emergency services personnel and forestry specialists plan to plant trees to establish protective forest belts. The trees’ root systems are expected to reinforce the soil and serve as natural barriers against landslides and mudflows. Last year, the region suffered severe rainfall, triggering mudslides that nearly destroyed two villages. A 10-year-old child lost their life, and over 300 families were evacuated. The disaster also inundated a section of the Bishkek-Osh highway, paralyzing traffic for several hours. “Visiting the ravines allowed us to assess their current condition and identify the areas most vulnerable to erosion. The timely implementation of protective measures, such as planting trees and applying bioengineering solutions, will not only mitigate flood risks but also help restore ecological balance,” the ministry stated. The project is funded by the World Bank and the International Development Association. The Jalal-Abad region has been selected for the pilot phase, with similar initiatives planned for other regions across the country. A recent World Bank report emphasized the economic costs of forest loss, noting its impact on the water cycle, soil stability, and drought resilience, factors that contribute to billions of dollars in global losses. “People and communities around the world are facing not only an environmental crisis but also an economic one. The good news is that solutions exist. If countries start investing now, natural systems can be restored, delivering strong returns in economic growth and job creation,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director at the World Bank. Experts argue that environmental programs should not be viewed as obstacles to development, but rather as key to building more sustainable and resilient economies.

Air Quality

Greening Campaign in Bishkek Targets Air Quality Improvement

A citywide greening campaign was launched in Bishkek on October 15, with plans to plant more than 10,000 tree and shrub saplings across the capital. The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat environmental degradation and improve air quality in one of Central Asia’s most polluted cities. According to the Bishkek City Administration, priority will be given to areas surrounding educational institutions. The plan includes the creation of green zones around every school in the city. The tree-planting campaign is designed to help reverse decades of urban deforestation, a consequence of rapid development that has significantly reduced Bishkek’s tree cover. Once regarded as one of the greenest cities in the former Soviet Union, Bishkek has lost much of its vegetation due to unchecked construction and infrastructure expansion. Environmental experts have urged city planners to prioritize the planting of tall, broadleaf deciduous trees, valued for their shade and noise-reducing qualities, over coniferous species, which currently dominate urban landscaping. The campaign aligns with Kyrgyzstan’s nationwide “Jashyl Muras” (“Green Heritage”) initiative, launched by President Sadyr Japarov in March 2022. The program aims to plant between five and six million saplings each year. In 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision reported that more than 8.1 million saplings were planted across the country. Additional Measures to Reduce Pollution On the same day, during a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for Improving Air Quality, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliev detailed other municipal efforts to reduce pollution. He noted that more than 1,500 diesel-powered minibuses have been removed from central city streets. The municipal transport fleet now consists of 1,449 environmentally friendly buses, 1,329 running on liquefied natural gas and 120 electric buses purchased in 2025. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, motor vehicle emissions contribute approximately 30% of Bishkek’s air pollution. Further efforts include the installation of a desulfurization system at the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant (TPP), which supplies heat and hot water to most of the capital. The plant’s emissions are estimated to account for around 15% of the city’s air pollution. The new system captures up to 96.6% of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) generated during coal combustion, marking a major step toward improving air quality in the city.

Aral Sea

Kazakhstan Urges Regional Cooperation to Save the Aral Sea

Kazakhstan has intensified its efforts to restore its portion of the former Aral Sea, calling on neighboring Central Asian states to increase their participation in regional environmental cooperation. Once the world’s fourth-largest lake, the Aral Sea has become a symbol of ecological catastrophe. Experts warn that international efforts remain inadequate. How the Sea Died Straddling the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea began to shrink in the 1960s when large-scale irrigation projects diverted water from its two main tributaries, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, to support cotton production and agriculture. A growing regional population added further strain. By 1989, the sea had split into the Northern (Small) and Southern (Large) Aral Seas. In 2014, the eastern basin of the Southern Aral Sea dried up completely. Today, the Aralkum Desert occupies much of what was once open water. Kazakhstan has since focused on restoring the Northern Aral Sea. [caption id="attachment_37684" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] A ship stranded in the desert, Moynaq, Uzbekistan; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] The restoration of the Northern Aral Sea has already yielded visible environmental and social benefits. Rising water levels have lowered salinity, allowing several native fish species to return. Local fisheries, once thought lost, are now active again in communities such as Aralsk. According to the Ministry of Ecology, the annual fish catch in the North Aral has risen more than tenfold since the early 2000s, reviving local employment and boosting food security. Experts note that even small ecological gains have had a profound psychological impact on residents who once witnessed the sea’s disappearance. Call for Renewed Efforts On October 15, Kazakhstan called for expanded international cooperation to protect both the Aral and Caspian Seas. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, speaking at the International Astana Think Tank Forum-2025, emphasized Kazakhstan’s contribution to the global climate agenda. He noted that a regional climate summit, set to be held in Astana in 2026, would provide a platform for coordinated strategies and joint decision-making among Central Asian nations. “Astana also calls for increased international participation in solving environmental problems and preserving the water resources of the Aral and Caspian Seas,” Ashikbayev said. Earlier, on October 10, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with senior officials from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan during the second meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), chaired by Kazakhstan. The event highlighted the need for a united regional approach, noting that restoration of the Aral Sea can be achieved through collective action. Bektenov acknowledged the challenges of the recent growing season, but said regional cooperation had helped maintain a stable water regime in the basin. “Each country has its own national interests, and we are obliged to defend them and will always do so. But I am convinced that our common strategic, long-term priority is good neighborly relations. In solving everyday short-term tasks, we must not undermine long-term priorities. I think that we will take joint measures to ensure that issues are always...

Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan Leads Regional Efforts to Save the Caspian Sea

Today, Central Asia and the Caspian littoral states face growing challenges that extend well beyond national borders. Climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and the shrinking of the Caspian Sea are no longer only environmental concerns but matters of regional security and sustainable development. The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, has become a symbol of crisis. Its rapid decline threatens ecosystems, navigation, fisheries, and food security from the Caucasus to Central Asia. Dushanbe: ecology as a new agenda for regional security A week ago, Dushanbe hosted two major international events: the “Central Asia–Russia” Summit and the meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council. At both forums, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for moving from declarations to concrete action, proposing to Establish a Council of Ministers for Ecology among the Central Asian countries and Russia Develop an Interstate Program for the preservation of the Caspian Sea’s water resources Expand the use of space technologies to monitor transboundary water bodies These initiatives are part of a broader effort to build a new environmental framework for Eurasia, positioning Central Asia as a laboratory for sustainable solutions rather than a zone of ecological risk. The environmental disaster of the Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is shrinking rapidly. According to data from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology, since 2006 its surface area has decreased by more than 31,000 square kilometers, and water levels have fallen by about 1.5 to 2 meters. Projections indicate severe consequences for spawning grounds, the Caspian seal population, port infrastructure, and the regional economy. The crisis mirrors the Aral Sea disaster, where environmental degradation caused widespread illness and social disruption. Experts warn that toxic dust from the exposed seabed could lead to respiratory diseases among millions of people. According to estimates by Save the Caspian Sea, the shoreline could retreat by as much as 89 kilometers, pushing fishing communities to the edge of survival. Falling sea levels already threaten unique wildlife, navigation, water supply, and agriculture, creating risks of migration and conflict. Because the Caspian is landlocked and not connected to the world’s oceans, its water losses cannot be naturally replenished. A coordinated response is needed, including sustainable water management, pollution control, and climate adaptation. The Caspian Sea as a crossroads of interests and contradictions The Caspian region today is more than an ecosystem; it is a geopolitical nexus where the interests of coastal states and global powers converge. Key transport routes such as the North–South Corridor and the Middle Corridor meet here, linking the economic, energy, and political interests of Russia, Iran, Turkey, China, and the European Union. The United States has also shown growing interest, particularly through its support for infrastructure projects in the South Caucasus and initiatives related to the Zangezur Corridor. Yet logistics, energy, and trade risk losing their purpose if the region’s natural foundation disappears. An ecological collapse could undermine multibillion-dollar investments, threaten food security, and turn the Caspian from a zone of cooperation into a battleground over resources. That is why saving...

Renewable Energy

ACWA Power Conducts Renewable Energy Workshop in Tashkent

Uzbekistan has taken another step toward its clean energy ambitions with a comprehensive training program hosted by the Energy and Water Academy (EWA Academy) in partnership with Saudi-based ACWA Power and the country’s ministries of energy and higher education. Held in Tashkent on October 7, the full-day workshop focused on key renewable energy technologies and brought together engineers, legal experts, financiers, policymakers, and students. The training aimed to deepen national expertise in solar, wind, energy storage, and hydrogen technologies, critical components of Uzbekistan’s evolving energy strategy. [caption id="attachment_37597" align="aligncenter" width="350"] @Acwa Power[/caption] Four technical modules were led by senior ACWA Power experts. Manuel Pozo Garcia presented on solar photovoltaic (PV) system design, grid integration, and performance optimization. Mohammad Iftekhar Ansari discussed wind resource assessment and turbine technologies, highlighting opportunities in Karakalpakstan and the Bukhara region. Krunal Patel covered battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hybrid energy solutions, emphasizing their role in grid stability and renewable energy integration. Philip Boustead explored the potential of green hydrogen, particularly in decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify. A keynote address by Jose Barragan, Vice President of Technical Services at ACWA Power, highlighted the company’s expanding renewable energy portfolio and innovation strategy. The event also included an interactive quiz, open discussions, and awards to recognize participant engagement. Students from Shirin College, the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan dedicated to renewable energy, were among the attendees, underscoring the focus on building local capacity. Dr. Jon Zaidi, ACWA Power’s Country General Manager for Uzbekistan, said the training supports the country’s Vision 2030 and the government’s broader push for a green energy transition. “Beyond financing infrastructure, we believe developing human capital is critical,” he said. [caption id="attachment_37598" align="aligncenter" width="351"] @Acwa Power[/caption] Thamer Alsharhan, chairman of EWA Academy, added that the initiative reflects a wider commitment to knowledge sharing, ensuring that local communities benefit directly from energy reforms. The event builds on ACWA Power’s expanding presence in Uzbekistan. The company is currently developing more than 8.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity across the country, including several large-scale solar and wind projects. In 2024, ACWA Power finalized dry financing for the $533 million Tashkent Riverside project, which combines a 200 MW solar PV plant with a 500 MWh battery energy storage system, the largest in Central Asia at the time. The company has also been active in wind energy, recently selling a 35% stake in two under-construction wind farms, Bash and Dzhankeldy, both located in the Bukhara region to China Southern Power Grid International.