Air Quality Management in Central Asia Download the Central Asia Air Quality Management Report here Poor air quality (AQ) is a serious challenge in urban and rural areas in Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The primary sources of air pollution are fossil fuel combustion for heating, industry and transport and sand and dust storms, which are more significant than in most other regions in the world and which contribute up to 25% of the total air pollution. Most diseases and premature deaths related to poor AQ are linked to particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). Its concentrations in major cities in Central Asia frequently exceed 6-12 times the World Health Organization (WHO) Ambient Air Quality Guidelines* of 5 µg/m³, especially in winter months. KEY FINDINGS In Central Asia, PM 2.5 ambient air Secondary Solid fuel combustion for air pollution reduces pollution health impacts PM 2.5 caused by heating, responsible for between labor productivity, are estimated between sulfur dioxide (SO 2), 18% and 42% of PM 2.5 pollution agricultural yields US$15.2 billion and nitrogen oxides (NO x), exposure in the studied cities and increases US$21.7 billion per year, and ammonia (NH 3) of Central Asia, is the largest healthcare costs. equivalent to 3-5% emissions accounts for human-caused contributor of regional gross domestic 10–50% of pollution for PM 2.5 pollution in the urban product (GDP) in 2022. from human activities. areas across the region. PM2.5 Concentrations of PM2.5 in 2022 (satellite data) (µg/m³) WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION? Assessments of cost-effective measures to improve AQ in Bishkek, Dushanbe, and Tashkent by 2040 reveal that the WHO interim targets can be achieved, but require context-specific approaches to urban air quality management (AQM). Source: World Bank based on https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/datasets/surface-pm2-5/. * https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 PM2.5 pollution reduction potentials by 2040 Bishkek Dushanbe Tashkent PM2.5 concentrations reduction potential of urban AQM measures Share of total reduction potential 58% 76% 27% Key sector delivering the reductions Road transport Residential heating Road transport PM2.5 concentrations reduction potential of AQM measures implemented outside of urban areas Share of total reduction potential 42% 24% 73% Key sector delivering the reductions Residential heating Residential heating Industry Projected PM2.5 concentrations after implementing all cost-effective measures in 2040, in µg/m3 22 27 24 Source: Original elaboration based on IIASA and World Bank. WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL NEAR-TERM PRIORITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE AQM SYSTEMS IN CENTRAL ASIA? STRENGTHENING EXPANDING THE AQ MONITORING THE INSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL, AND MODELING CAPABILITIES AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ▪ Expand and upgrade AQ monitoring. FOR AQM ▪ Strengthen technical capabilities of the ▪ Strengthen governmental AQ monitoring networks. roles, responsibilities, and ▪ Update and strengthen the emission structures to support an inventory systems to meet international effective AQM system. best practices. ▪ Establish interministerial AQ ▪ Strengthen capacities for AQ modeling. Coordination Committees. ▪ Strengthen strategic AQM planning on national and local INCREASING STAKEHOLDER levels adopting the airshed AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT approach. ▪ Strengthen stakeholder engagement. ▪ Review and update sectoral ▪ Support awareness raising and legislation for the key emitting education. sectors. SUPPORTING REGIONAL COOPERATION UPDATING AQ STANDARDS ▪ Set up a platform/mechanism for ▪ Reassess the list of pollutants information and knowledge exchange. for which AQ standards are ▪ Share the implementation of some adopted. AQM activities on a regional scale. ▪ Update AQ standards in line ▪ Agree on actions to reduce with WHO recommendations. transboundary air pollution. Download the Central Asia Air Quality Management Report here: xxx