While Ulaanbaater, Mongolia’s metropolis, was hovering around the number 3 spot for the world's air polluted capitals, the city reportedly saw a reduction of 50% in air pollution this last winter due to the city wide ban of burning raw coal for households, entities and organizations (not power plants). This action was not only a big defense against air pollution but also a significant legal triumph, considering Mongolia has gone through four governments since 2011. In the fourth episode of Air Pollution in Central Asia, we hear from Erdene Batzorig, the Head of Mongolian Environmental Civil Council (see www.mecc.mnfor organization), and she shares with us her thoughts on the current relationship between the Mongolian government and CSOs, wide-spread indoor pollution due to poor insulation and much more. 

Subjects by time:

0:28 NGOs in Mongolia 

2:05 Relationship between CSOs and the government

4:30 NGO monitoring of mining companies, waste management

5:18 Causes of Pollution

6:52 Banning citizens and small businesses from burning raw coal

7:51 2019/2020 Air pollution level reduction

9:02 Scope of raw coal ban

10:14 Monitoring air pollution. Government and CSOs.

11:37 Negative health effects

12:38 Insulation material standards 

15:17 COVID-19 cases

15:54 Lockdown measures

16:54 Government actions towards air pollution reduction

19:10 Cleaner energy solutions

20:00 The government since 2011 and NGOs

22:25 Two new factories for improved coal

23:08 NGO fundraising

23:27 NGOs using media and TV

Air pollution is nicknamed as 'the silent killer' in Afghanistan. In 2019, the PM2.5 levels placed Afghanistan as the 4th most polluted country in the world (one rank after Mongolia). 

Join us this week with Naqib Sediqi, from the National Environment Protection Agency, as we get briefed on the current state of air pollution in Afghanistan. Mr. Sediki informed us that there is a lack of studies and research on the subject of air pollution in his country and he gave us his long list of recommendations which he thinks might help.

Subjects by time:

0:30 Geographic structure of Afghanistan

1:00 Civil war

2:45 Lack of sanitation

4:20 Electricity

8:14 Afghanistan and Kabul in world rankings

10:05 Negative effects of air pollution

11:25 PM2.5 levels

12:19 In relation to COVID 19

13:06 Government steps

15:57 Naqib Sediqi’s list of recommendations

This week we turn our attention to Kyrgyzstan. We speak with Maria Kohesnikova, the director of MoveGreen, a youth environmental movement in the capital city of Bishkek, about the current status of air pollution in the country of Kyrgyzstan.

In Kyrgyzstan, it is not possible for civil society representatives to analyze the exhaust emitted from coal-powered power plants. Having an independent group of experts inspecting power plants would not only reveal the chemical emission levels but could also provide necessary feedback for plants to run cleaner and more efficiently. Learn more about this and other topics by listening along!

Subjects by time:

0:36 Main causes of pollution in Bishkek

2:00 Car and fuel quality regulations

2:35 Bishkek PM2.5 levels in comparison

5:26 Negative effects of pollution

7:40 2018 and 2019 heating seasons and clean air standards

9:05 Less cars due to COVID-19 and the new data

11:24 Government measures against air pollution

14:40 Adapting measures e.g. plant inspections, building insulation standards, public transport, fuel euro standards

20:40 Civic space and raising awareness

24:44 Playing with air pollution data

Does air pollution derive more from cars or from coal burning plants? Listen to find out this age-old question and much more on the premiere episode of Air pollution in Central Asia podcast with Airkaz.org website founder Pavel Alexander. Pavel initially started monitoring air pollution levels out of curiosity, simply for the level of safety of keeping the apartment window open. After 3 years, the website expanded to multiple live sensors in six cities throughout Kazakhstan as well as Bishkek. Listen along while you check your city/neighborhood PM 2.5 levels on www.airkaz.org

This is the first installment of the Innovation for Change Central Asia podcast series Air Pollution in Central Asia. Stay tuned for further episodes every Wednesday!

Timestamps:

0:15 - The beginning of Airkaz.org

1:20 - Number of cities and number of sensors

2:18 - Crowdsourcing

3:50 - Response from community

5:13 - Air pollution Sensors

6:10 - Smog and PM2.5

7:04 - Source of air pollution in Almaty

9:21 - COVID 19 and new air pollution data

11:56 - Coal plant quality & omissions

14:07 - Government action towards PM2.5 levels

15:25 - Airkaz.org relation with government organizations

17:59 - Ban coal

18:58 - Shift to natural gas

20:22 - Pollution in Central Asia compared to the rest of the world

21:50 - Civil society interest in air pollution levels and transparency

22:29 - Health problems

25:19 - How to make change and the importance of uniting.

We meet Inkara, the I4C Central Asia project manager, and hear about her experience with the Independent Research Institute of Mongolia and their Digital Transparency Index presentation in Bishkek. The index was tested simultaneously both in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan where 30 government organizations from each country were assessed in terms of their digital transparency.

Host Nursultan dreams of visiting Afghanistan. But in the mean time he talks about I4Cs Afghan partner, Porsesh Research Studies Organization and their Innovation Index. The index is designed to evaluate the level of innovation of CSOs and to help them intervene for further empowerment of the CSOs based on the evidence.

The I4C/CA team met in Tajikistan, where 25 young leaders from Pamir, Dushanbe and other cities created mock-ups and IT prototypes of Mobile Apps which address climate change, poverty, unemployment, quality of health services and corruption.

We sit down with Jamila Asanova, the mastermind behind the Central Asian Innovation Festival.

Welcome to the Innovation for Change Central Asia podcast. 

Afghan partner, Porsesh Research & Studies Organization, developed an Innovation Index and presented its methodology and tools during a workshop in Almaty. This project is designed to evaluate the level of innovation of CSOs and to help them intervene for further empowerment of the CSOs based on the evidence.​