Air Pollution - The Times Of Central Asia

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UN Human Rights Commissioner Raises Alarm Over Air Quality in Bishkek

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed concern over deteriorating air quality in Bishkek during his official visit to Kyrgyzstan. The visit, focused on civil rights, freedom of speech, and economic development, also addressed pressing environmental issues affecting the Kyrgyz capital. Speaking at a press conference, Türk emphasized that Kyrgyzstan ranks among the most polluted countries in the region, and that air quality in Bishkek poses a serious threat to public health and the environment. “Despite some progress and financial support from international organizations, much more needs to be done to protect the environment,” he said. Türk urged Kyrgyz authorities to intensify efforts to combat climate change and to increase investment in green initiatives. He underscored the importance of climate finance and the need for comprehensive, cooperative action. “This issue must be addressed in partnership and through a climate change lens,” he said. “While there have been financial injections from international donors, they have not yet translated into sufficient results. Each country bears responsibility. Green investments are essential, not just for Kyrgyzstan, but for all nations. The government must take stronger, more effective action.” According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report from IQAir, cities across Central Asia consistently exceed World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The report notes the following annual average concentrations (in micrograms per cubic meter): Dushanbe: 46.3 Tashkent: 31.4 Bishkek: 21.2 Osh: 20.5 Almaty: 20.3 Astana: 15.4 For context, the WHO’s recommended safe limit for PM2.5 is no more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

Karaganda IQAir Air Pollution

Kazakhstan’s Karaganda Among World’s Most Polluted Cities as Central Asia Struggles with Air Quality

Kazakhstan’s Karaganda - the heartland of the nation's coal and metallurgical industries - was ranked as the world’s third most polluted city in 2024, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report released by IQAir. The report evaluates global air quality for 2024, presenting PM2.5 air pollution data collected from 8,954 cities across 138 countries, regions, and territories. PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) and is a key indicator of air pollution. Karaganda recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 104.8 µg/m³ in 2024. In comparison, Byrnihat, India, the world's most polluted city, had an average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m³. Central Asian Cities in the Global Ranking Among the world’s most polluted cities, Central Asia’s major cities ranked as follows: Dushanbe, Tajikistan - 176th, PM2.5: 46.3 µg/m³ Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 510th, PM2.5: 31.4 µg/m³ Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - 1009th, PM2.5: 21.2 µg/m³ Almaty, Kazakhstan - 1072nd, PM2.5: 20.3 µg/m³ Astana, Kazakhstan - 1608th, PM2.5: 15.4 µg/m³ Kazakhstan’s Regional Air Quality Standing In the ranking of the world's most polluted countries, Kazakhstan had the best air quality in Central Asia, ranking 71st globally. Other regional rankings were: Tajikistan - 6th most polluted country Uzbekistan - 19th Turkmenistan - 26th Kyrgyzstan - 41st Global Air Pollution Trends According to the report, only 17% of global cities met the World Health Organization (WHO) air pollution guideline for PM2.5. The seven countries that met the WHO’s annual average PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³ were: Australia Bahamas Barbados Estonia Grenada Iceland New Zealand The five most polluted countries in 2024 were: Chad – 91.8 µg/m³ (more than 18 times higher than the WHO guideline) Bangladesh – 78.0 µg/m³ (more than 15 times higher) Pakistan – 73.7 µg/m³ (more than 14 times higher) Democratic Republic of the Congo – 58.2 µg/m³ (more than 11 times higher) India – 50.6 µg/m³ (more than 10 times higher) A total of 126 out of 138 countries (91.3%) exceeded the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³. Air Pollution’s Impact on Human Health The report underscores that air pollution remains the greatest environmental threat to human health. According to the WHO, 99% of the global population lives in areas that do not meet recommended air quality levels. Air pollution is the second leading global risk factor for death and the second leading cause of death among children under five, following malnutrition. The health effects of air pollution include respiratory diseases, developmental issues, and increased mortality. In 2021 alone, 8.1 million deaths were attributed to air pollution, with 58% of those deaths caused by ambient PM2.5 pollution.

Trump Administration Air Pollution Pollution

U.S. Ends Air Quality Data Sharing from Embassies

The United States has announced it will no longer share air quality data gathered from its diplomatic missions worldwide. This decision has sparked concerns among environmental groups, public health advocates, and nations that rely on this data to track pollution and safeguard public health. For over a decade, U.S. embassies and consulates have provided invaluable air quality data using state-of-the-art equipment to monitor pollutants such as PM2.5, a fine particulate matter with serious health implications at high levels. Updated hourly, this information was readily accessible online, empowering individuals and governments to make informed decisions on managing air pollution risks. The U.S. government has not provided any explanation for this decision. The Times of Central Asia has previously reported on poor air quality across the region sourcing data from U.S. embassies which saw both Tashkent and Bishkek enter the list of the ten worst cities in the world for air pollution, leading to warnings to “avoid outdoor exercise, close your windows, wear a mask outdoors, and run an air purifier.”

Chess Championship Magnus Carlsen Air Pollution Sports

Magnus Carlsen Criticizes Almaty’s Air Quality After Chess Championship

Former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has spoken about the challenges he faced while competing in the World Rapid Chess Championship in Kazakhstan. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the Norwegian grandmaster revealed that Almaty’s poor air quality forced him to seek refuge in the mountains to recover and breathe fresh air. Carlsen described the tournament venue as a “strange place,” noting that Almaty suffers from severe air pollution in winter, creating an uncomfortable environment. To cope, he traveled to a mountainous area about an hour from the city, where he said the landscape resembled the Swiss Alps, with peaks reaching 3,500 meters. This trip caused Carlsen to be late for his match against Belarusian grandmaster Vladislav Kovalev. He started the game 2.5 minutes behind schedule, a significant disadvantage in a format where players have just three minutes for the entire game, plus two seconds per move. Despite the setback, Carlsen won both the match and the championship. “I was so miserable in the city that I realized if I wanted to keep playing, I needed to get out and get some fresh air. I decided to take the risk, and it worked,” he said in an interview. The tournament began on December 25, 2022, in Almaty, with a total prize fund of $1 million, fully sponsored by general partner Freedom Broker. Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history, held the world championship title from 2013 to 2023. He has won the World Rapid Chess Championship five times, claimed eight Blitz Chess titles, and secured victory in the 2023 FIDE World Cup.

Ecology Air Pollution Public health

Kyrgyz Engineer Develops Unique Air Purification Filter

Amid rising air pollution in Kyrgyzstan, hydraulic engineer Amantur Salymbayev has developed an innovative smoke filter that operates without electricity or water, relying solely on aerodynamic principles. The device is currently undergoing patent registration with Kyrgyzpatent. According to the Department of Environmental Monitoring, research has confirmed that the filter captures 98% of harmful pollutants, including soot and carbon dioxide (CO₂). A key feature of the Salymbayev filter is its complete autonomy - it requires no connection to power or water supplies. This makes it particularly effective in reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality in highly polluted areas. So far, six filters have been installed in various locations, including Bishkek and Naryn, as part of a pilot project. The installations were carried out free of charge to demonstrate the filter’s effectiveness and affordability to the public. With a lifespan of five to six years and no maintenance requirements, the filter offers a cost-effective and durable solution. Each unit is priced at 25,000 soms (approximately $285), but as Salymbayev emphasizes, his primary motivation is environmental improvement rather than financial gain. “Earnings are not my priority. I want my grandchildren to breathe clean air. I am a patriot of my country,” Salymbayev said. If widely adopted, the technology could significantly reduce harmful emissions in Kyrgyzstan and serve as a model for eco-friendly innovation.

Environment Government Environmental Awareness Ecology Air Pollution

Kyrgyz Authorities Aim to Improve Air Quality in Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, has outlined plans to tackle air pollution in Bishkek. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of an interdepartmental commission tasked with addressing environmental issues, Mashiev announced that the government is prepared to issue interest-free loans for environmental projects, with a particular focus on improving air quality in the capital. Bishkek ranks among the worst cities globally for air pollution, placing fifth from the bottom in terms of air quality. According to some reports, funding for these projects will come from the World Bank. Similar loan programs are expected to be introduced in the cities of Jalal-Abad and Osh. As part of efforts to combat pollution, the Ministry of Natural Resources is considering building facilities to process coal from the Kara-Keche open-pit mine in Naryn Oblast. This coal is used to heat most of Bishkek, including its thermal power plant. Many environmentalists argue that the primary cause of the city's poor air quality is the widespread use of coal for heating by private households. “In addition, the use of nanotechnology to improve air quality is being explored, including the installation of catalytic converters on vehicles,” the ministry stated. Separately, Mashiev met with members of Kyrgyzstan’s scientific community to discuss the role of research in addressing air pollution. He emphasized that science should play a key role in developing solutions and pledged to allocate funding for research on the issue. Experts at the meeting urged the ministry to conduct a comprehensive study of the problem, including an analysis of the impact of vehicle emissions compared to coal burning.