“On the way to sustainable and vital development of the cities of the Kyrgyz Republic”

On 25 of November, issues related to improving air quality in the cities of the Kyrgyz Republic were discussed at the round table  with the participation of the representatives of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Government, academia, private sector, civil society and donor community.

The purpose of the meeting, organized by the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry with the support of UNDP, was to provide a platform for stakeholders to map pressing air pollution issues, identify measures to accelerate progress in addressing the air pollution problem, and propose partnership and financing options that could translate the proposed plans into action. 

As the world around us becomes more urbanized and overpopulated, engines continue to emit pollutants into the atmosphere and half of the global population does not have access to clean fuels or technologies, the levels of air pollution are becoming more dangerous – according to World Health Organization (WHO), nine out of 10 people around the world breathe highly polluted air.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, air pollution causes more than 2.5 thousand premature deaths annually and causes nearly $ 1.4 billion in health-related damage, according to the assessment of health impacts from pollution conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and the World Health Organization. The Lancet Magazine’s Commission report for 2016 estimates the economic cost of lost productivity caused by pollution-related diseases in Kyrgyzstan at between $ 24 and $ 31 million in 2015. This is 0.4-0.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

“Only a coordinated approach can ensure success. Many cities are already doing a lot by switching to renewable energy, adopting low emission transport strategies, promoting cleaner electricity production and cleaner technologies, as well as by implementing improved monitoring and production standards. At the same time, they are acquiring 21st-century skills, facilitating the digitalization and transfer of technology, and creating new, cleaner, better jobs for future generations,” said Jenty Kirsch-Wood, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Altynai Omurbekova emphasized in her speech: that the transition to sustainable development necessitates looking at the economic growth through the prism of human values ​​and the rational use of natural resources. “Air pollution is a global problem and one of the main health risk factors. In recent years, air pollution has become a real problem in our country, especially in the city of Bishkek, and has attracted widespread attention,” she said.

Altynai Omurbekova also shared plans and measures taken by the government to improve the quality of atmospheric air, in particular, import duty exemption for electric vehicles, purchase of natural gas powered public transport buses, and construction of bicycle lanes.  Procurement of air monitoring stations to track air pollution levels is also under way, she said.

Also, according to Omurbekova, local environmentalists and experts from the Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences prepared recommendations on planting tree species and plantings that are aesthetically pleasing and have the ability to absorb harmful emissions.

A safe and sustainable environment, including clean air, is the basic requirement for human health and well-being. Improving air quality is a key principle for sustainable urban development and can be supported by long-term low-emission development strategies and climate change mitigation measures.

The search for innovative solutions to improve air quality and their financing require more active engagement of stakeholders. As air pollution is a complex issue involving many interrelated factors, the round table participants reviewed problems and needs and discussed what needs to be done in terms of policy, actions and funding in the following four areas:

·         Data, monitoring, information on air pollution;

·         Urban transport and roads system;

·         Urban design and planning;

·         Urban heating and public utilities

The anticipated consolidation of stakeholder efforts in addressing urban air pollution will contribute to strengthening policy measures to improve air quality and contribute to long-term action to combat climate change.