Bishkek used to be known as a charming, tree-lined city having the cleanest air. The capital of Kyrgyzstan has a serious problem with air pollution, and now Bishkek might be…

Bishkek used to be known as a charming, tree-lined city having the cleanest air. The capital of Kyrgyzstan has a serious problem with air pollution, and now Bishkek might be called one of the most polluted cities in the world. One of the main reasons for the smog that hangs heavy over Bishkek is poor urban planning. Over the past few years, large numbers of high-rise buildings have gone up with little supervision, preventing the refreshing air that used to descend from mountains in the south from circulating freely. The dirty air also comes from coal-heated household stoves. The State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forests estimates that of the 240,000 tons of harmful emissions pumped into Bishkek's air each year comes from household stoves. Air pollution levels rise after the start of the heating season in Bishkek. Urban traffic is another cause of air pollution. The car density in Bishkek is one of the highest in the world: about 640 cars per 1,000 inhabitants (Germany has a car density of 550 per 1,000 inhabitants), diesel-driven minibuses (marshrutkas) replace a missing public transport system, and the population suffers from increasing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Now, it is time to work out concrete projects for air improvement in Bishkek, with support from various local leaders from civil society, politicians, and scientists to develop and implement solutions, using the international exchange of expertise and experience. b) Read or listen to the text again. How many different causes of air pollution in Bishkek were mentioned? What are they? Can you think of some other causes?