In anticipation of the Regional Ecological Summit, which will take place in 2026, specialists from the CACF Project Office have researched the environmental challenges facing Kyrgyzstan.
According to the foundation, Kyrgyzstan, the fourth largest country in Central Asia, is experiencing numerous ecological problems, including air pollution in Bishkek, the accumulation of hazardous waste, glacier melting, irrational use of water resources, and degradation of natural ecosystems, which increases the risk of natural disasters.
During the winter months, Bishkek often ranks among the ten cities with the worst air quality in the world. This is due to several factors: geographical location, high levels of coal emissions (over 60% of the total), and an increase in the number of vehicles, which contributes to the rise in harmful emissions.
The waste generated from production processes and the activities of the population represents another serious problem. The country has 92 tailings storage facilities containing over 250 million cubic meters of toxic and radioactive waste, threatening the ecology and groundwater. Moreover, the waste collection and recycling system in Kyrgyzstan is extremely inefficient, and landfills for solid household waste, such as those in Bishkek, are overcrowded and do not meet environmental standards.
The state of water resources is particularly concerning. Global warming is leading to rapid glacier melting, and water bodies are being polluted by both industrial and agricultural runoff. At the same time, wastewater treatment facilities in the country are in a deplorable state.
Degradation of ecosystems caused by irrational use of pastures, deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification leads to a loss of biodiversity, which in turn increases the likelihood of natural disasters.
Kyrgyzstan is subject to multiple threats, including earthquakes, landslides, and floods. Climate change is increasing the frequency of phenomena such as mudslides, hail, frosts, and droughts, negatively impacting agriculture. The summer heat of 2025 particularly affected the economy, leading to a 14.2% decrease in grain yields.
Economic difficulties significantly limit the government's ability to finance environmental protection measures.
From April 22 to 24, 2026, the Regional Ecological Summit will be held in Astana, where the problems of Central Asian countries and possible solutions will be discussed.
