From October 16 to 18, Austausch e.V. participated in the National Urban Forum 2024, held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. This major international event aimed to promote sustainable development and improve urban environments in Kyrgyzstan and the wider Central Asian region. Bishkek, like many Central Asian cities, faces significant environmental challenges, particularly in terms of air pollution. Rapid urbanization, outdated infrastructure, reliance on coal-based heating, and vehicle emissions have contributed to deteriorating air quality, which poses serious health risks to its citizens. These issues make environmental protection a key priority on the region’s ecological agenda.