Coal Is Fueling A Pollution Problem In Central Asia

Coal-powered plants and the stoves of residential homes in Central Asia's largest cities are pumping toxins into the sky, icy roads are thick with slow moving, aging vehicles, and social media chatter is full of talk about how bad the air is and where to buy the best air purifier. Air pollution, and especially dirty winter air, has long been a problem in the region, but it is now beginning to resemble a catastrophe.

The political will to combat air pollution has traditionally been weak, but with public awareness of the problem growing and the health…