Five steps for cleaner air in Central Asia

• None of the countries in the World Bank’s Central Asia region meet the WHO annual safety limits for suspended small particles.
• In Kazakhstan alone, air pollution contributes to over 6,000 premature deaths and causes estimated economic losses of over US$ 1.3 billion per year.
• Lilia Burunciuc, the World Bank’s regional Director for Central Asia shares her own experiences of air pollution while living in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• The World Bank offers five ways countries in Central Asia can improve air quality, preserve economic gains, and save lives.

For the last five years I have lived and worked in the beautiful city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. On clear days, the city offers a stunning skyline backed by the Tian Shan mountains. But clear days are becoming fewer and farther between. Sadly, these unique views are often obstructed or fully blocked by poisonous smog.

Air pollution is more than…