Breathless in Bishkek: the struggle for clean air in a city contested by geography, urban development and climate change

The Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek ranks among the largest cities in all of Central Asia. Located close to the country's border with Kazakhstan, it lies just off the northern fringe of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range. While contributing to a scenic panorama, these geographic factors also challenge the city's urbanistic ambitions. A largely fossil-based energy generation, a seemingly opaque urban sprawl and the challenges of a changing climate are thoroughly testing the city's limits. How does the challen...