An online discussion on how to address the issues highlighted on the Map of Environmental Violations took place on April 30, 2026. The map developed by the Union of Photojournalists of Kyrgyzstan has already attracted the attention of government agencies, industry, and the public both within Kyrgyzstan and beyond.
Participants in the meeting—representatives of organizations from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA)—discussed how the map works and what data is needed to add new pollution sites. They were interested in how environmental organizations use the information on the map and what examples of decisions made about specific pollution sites exist.
Experts from the Union of Photojournalists of Kyrgyzstan explained how to prepare requests to add new pollution sites to the map. It was emphasized that proposals can be submitted not only from Kyrgyzstan but also from other countries in the region. The key requirement is data reliability, which must be verifiable.
Participants in the discussion were concerned about whether waste incineration facilities could be included on the map of environmental violations. According to environmentalists, such facilities pose a threat to the environment and human health due to poorly controlled emissions, the de facto absence of a separate waste collection system in the EECCA region, and a lack of information regarding the presence of toxic substances in waste.
A recording of the discussion in the Russian language is available at the following link:
