2025-05-13-世界银行-中亚空气质量管理_总结报告（英）_84页_7mb

Summary of Air Quality Management in Central Asia

Core Content

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of air quality (AQ) management in Central Asia (CA), focusing on the region's challenges, opportunities, and the need for integrated, evidence-based strategies to improve air quality through local action and regional collaboration. It outlines the main sources of pollution, the institutional framework for AQ management, and the financial mechanisms necessary to support pollution control efforts.

Key Findings

• Air Quality Issues: Poor air quality in CA is predominantly an urban issue, with PM₂.₅ concentrations typically 6 to 12 times higher than the WHO guideline of 5 μg/m³ in cities like Dushanbe, Bishkek, Tashkent, Samarkand, Astana, and Almaty.
• Pollution Sources: Soil and desert dust contribute significantly to PM₂.₅ exposure in CA cities (20-50% annually), while anthropogenic emissions (especially from residential heating, industry, and transport) account for 50-80% of total exposure.
• Health and Economic Impact: Annual health costs from PM₂.₅ pollution in CA are estimated at US$15.2 to US$21.7 billion, equivalent to 3-5% of regional GDP. AQ improvements can also reduce premature deaths, boost productivity, and enhance public health and urban livability.
• Regional Transboundary Pollution: Pollution flows between CA countries are significant, emphasizing the need for a regional cooperation approach to AQ management.
• Cost-Effective Measures:
  • Residential heating is the largest anthropogenic source of PM₂.₅ in all cities studied.
  • Road transport is the most cost-effective measure in Bishkek and Tashkent, while residential heating is most effective in Dushanbe.
  • Industrial pollution control is the most cost-effective measure for Tashkent.
• Projected Improvements:
  • By 2040, PM₂.₅ exposure in Bishkek is expected to be 22 μg/m³, Dushanbe 27 μg/m³, and Tashkent 24 μg/m³, assuming the implementation of all cost-effective measures.
• Secondary PM₂.₅: A significant portion of PM₂.₅ exposure comes from secondary particulate matter formed from SO₂, NOₓ, and NH₃ emissions. These gases react in the atmosphere to form ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate, the main components of secondary inorganic PM₂.₅.

Main Views

• Urban AQ Management: Urban areas are the main pollution hotspots, but a substantial portion of PM₂.₅ exposure within city boundaries comes from sources outside the city, highlighting the need for airshed-based governance.
• Institutional Gaps: AQ management systems in CA are top-down, lack local strategies, and are not aligned with the airshed approach. There is also a need for modernized emission inventories, up-to-date AQ standards, and enhanced monitoring and modeling capabilities.
• Policy and Legal Frameworks: Strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, updating emission limit values (ELVs), and improving sectoral legislation are critical steps to enhance AQ management.
• Public Engagement and Awareness: Raising awareness and involving stakeholders is essential for successful AQ initiatives.
• Financing Challenges:
  • Pollution charges are often ineffective due to lenient ELVs and outdated AQ standards.
  • Public funding is necessary for small and decentralized sources, such as residential heating.
  • Concessional finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and sustainability-linked bonds are suggested as alternative financing mechanisms.

Key Information

• PM₂.₅ exposure in CA cities is primarily from anthropogenic sources, with residential heating being the largest contributor.
• Regional collaboration is essential for managing transboundary pollution and achieving international AQ standards.
• Cost-effective measures vary by city:
  • Bishkek: Road transport is the most cost-effective urban measure, while residential heating is most effective for outside measures.
  • Dushanbe: Residential heating is the most cost-effective for both urban and outside measures.
  • Tashkent: Road transport is the most cost-effective urban measure, and industrial pollution control is most effective for outside measures.
• Institutional and Policy Recommendations:
  • Establish interministerial AQ Coordination Committees.
  • Update AQ standards to align with WHO recommendations.
  • Improve emission inventory systems to include non-industrial and non-transport sources.
  • Expand AQ monitoring networks and enhance technical capabilities.
  • Strengthen stakeholder engagement and public awareness.
  • Implement modern financial instruments to support AQ improvement, including sustainability-linked bonds and public funding.

Conclusion

Improving air quality in Central Asia requires a holistic and integrated approach, combining evidence-based analytics, modern tools for impact assessment, strengthened institutional frameworks, and innovative financing mechanisms. The report emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation, airshed-based governance, and context-specific interventions to achieve sustainable and cost-effective AQ improvements. The economic and health benefits of cleaner air are substantial, making it a priority for policy and investment in the region.