The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $50 million for the Kyrgyz Republic Air Quality Improvement Project to help the country reduce its air pollution and the adverse effects it has on public health and the economy. Office of the World Bank in the Kyrgyz Republic reported.
As noted, in Bishkek, the average annual PM2.5 concentrations in 2022 surpassed the World Health Organization’s guideline value of 5 µg/m3 by nearly sevenfold. During the last several winters, average daily concentrations of PM2.5 were often above 200 µg/m3, surpassing the WHO guideline of 15 µg/m3 more than 13 times and placing Bishkek among the world’s most polluted cities.
«Managing air quality is a daunting challenge that requires a comprehensive approach across national and city authorities, stakeholders, and development partners. By reducing air pollution, the country will not only improve its air quality but also will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and pivot towards a green economy,» said World Bank Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic Naveed Hassan Naqvi.
The Kyrgyz Republic Air Quality Improvement Project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Kyrgyz Republic to manage air quality and to reduce emissions of PM2.5 and greenhouse gases in Bishkek. The project has been designed using a programmatic approach, allowing activities to be scaled up and replicated when additional financing becomes available by the World Bank or other development partners.
The project focuses on a number of key areas of intervention, including:
- Strengthening air quality management systems by improving ambient air quality data collection and analysis, enhancing the air quality management and pollution control functions, building capacity of relevant environmental and technical inspection departments, as well as strengthening cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms;
- Supporting adoption of clean heating solutions through sub-loans to households for switching to clean heating systems;
- Urban greening through a pilot green belt, specifically designed for reducing air pollution, and investments in the urban irrigation system.
The financing for the Kyrgyz Republic Air Quality Improvement Project is provided through the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional lending arm, in the form of a zero-interest credit, with repayments spread out over 50 years and a 10-year grace period. The project will be implemented through December 2030 by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision and the Ministry of Finance, in close cooperation with the relevant government bodies, Hydrometeorological Service (Kyrgyzhydromet) under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Bishkek Municipality, commercial banks, and other key stakeholders. Strict international standards including procurement and financial management regulations and anti-corruption guidelines will be enforced.
