Kyrgyz officials ask UN for grant to tackle smog problem

13:34, 12 декабря 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Gulmira Makanbai kyzy

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan asks the UN for a $6,700 billion grant to tackle the smog problem. Head of the ministry Dinara Kutmanova announced at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on agrarian policy, water resources, ecology and regional development.

The official told the deputies what measures were being taken so far to reduce air pollution in Bishkek. One of the measures, according to her, will be the transfer of 23 boiler houses from coal to gas.

«We need a wider introduction of alternative energy sources (heat pumps, a Canadian well and the active use of an additional hybrid form of heating — solar panels in households). Projects have been developed in these areas. We have applied for grant assistance in the amount of $6,700 billion,» Dinara Kutmanova said.

She noted that consideration of an application for such an amount in the Green Climate Fund takes three years. However, the official promises to resolve the issue of smog sooner.

The Green Climate Fund is a new global fund created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to support the efforts of developing countries to address climate change.

Bishkek again topped the World Air Quality rating of the largest cities in the world in terms of air pollution on Sunday. The capital of Kyrgyzstan took the first place with «very unhealthy» index. Officials promise to solve the problem year after year, but nothing is done.