Kyrgyzstan's $20 Billion 'Eco-City' Project Draws Ire for Greenwashing

Asman — an ambitious $20 billion “eco-city” project is set to come up on the picturesque shores of Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul. However, environmental activists aren’t impressed.

Their argument — a project doesn’t become sustainable just by virtue of adding the adjective "eco" in its description. They perceive it as an attempt at "greenwashing."

Lake Issyk-Kul, the seventh-deepest lake in the world and the second-largest high-altitude lake, is a biological and economic resource of the country located in Central Asia. Besides being a prominent tourist destination, the lake was also recognized as part of the UN agency's worldwide network of Biosphere Reserves.

"Every tourist coming to our country makes it a point to visit Issyk-Kul. It is a famous destination and the highlight of every travel itinerary," said Aisha Mambetalieva, director and founder of Kyrgyz Tourism — a travel company.

Even before the eco-city announcement, ecological experts had been raising concerns about the deterioration of the environmental situation in Issyk-Kul due to climate change and unregulated construction.

"The lake's water level has been declining over the past decade due to the redirection of fl