Written by Lindsay Wong. For more stories, check out Code Green.
(MONGOLIA) - Bordered by Russia and China, Mongolia is known for its unique landscape and nomadic culture. Despite the region's beautiful scenery, Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital, is known as one of the most polluted cities in the world. It is during the harsh winters when freezing households need to burn coal in order to warm themselves or to cook food. The air pollution has been proven to have detrimental effects on people’s health. The government is attempting to implement measures to alleviate the severeness of this problem but the effects still persist.
Ulaanbaatar is located at the bottom of the valley. Its location leads to the thermal inversion effect, which traps a layer of cool air below a layer of warm air, making it easier for pollutants to stay near the ground. The main pollutant is the high concentration of particulate matter. The air contains a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles that can be composed of sulphates, black carbon, etc. These particles disrupt how the organs normally function and damage brain cells. They have the ability to cross the lung barrier and enter people’s blood, creating extremely harmful effects for their health. In the past decade, respiratory infections have increased by 270% in these areas.
Children bear the worst consequences of Mongolia’s air pollution. Incidences of pneumonia and other deadly respiratory illnesses have spiked among children. Children and babies are more likely to be negatively affected by air pollution because they have small lungs, they breathe more rapidly than adults and their immune systems are still not fully developed, so they are unable to effectively fight the diseases. Furthermore, babies are exposed to toxins even before they are born, which makes them more likely to possess neurological disorders and behavioral problems post-birth.
Mongolia has a history of having a prominent nomadic culture. However, modernization and drier summers have caused many former nomads who worked as herders and other occupations to venture into the city. Ulaanbaatar has more job opportunities and better facilities and institutions than the countryside. 45% of all Mongolians live in the city, making Ulaanbaatar overpopulated. This intensive migration has led many families to live in informal settlements. Gers are circular dwellings made of wood and canvas and insulated with felt. They are a cheaper option than apartments, so many families opt to stay in gers.
Overpopulation in the ger district hasn’t helped the air pollution problem as more families are burning coals during the winters. The freezing temperatures mean families must burn whatever they can find to stay warm as there is no centralized heating in the ger district. Coal is the most affordable option that is always readily available. A single family can burn through two tons of coal each winter. 80% of all the air pollution in the capital is caused by household districts but those in gers end up being the worst victims of it. Many families are forced to choose between their health and financial security.
In efforts to mitigate the problem, the Mongolian government proposed a revised ‘Nationally Determined Contribution’ last year to reduce greenhouse gas and key air pollutant emissions. The air quality in the winter of 2019 and 2020 was clearer because of the government’s ban on raw coal consumption in the ger and household districts, which started in May 2019 and proved to be the most significant effective solution.
Additionally, the government banned internal migration into Ulaanbaatar in an attempt to limit the number of people contributing to air pollution. Another solution would be to extend infrastructure to the ger district so families could live in better conditions and become less reliant on burning coal for heating during winters. However, at the moment, the government cannot afford making fundamental changes in the country’s infrastructure and sources of energy.
Although the government’s efforts seem to be effective for now, they will have to come up with more policies that will have long-term beneficial effects. Many other urban centers are struggling to deal with environmental problems because of the tension between public health and increasing the economy, particularly in developing countries. Without radical action, many Asian countries will continue to suffer from the harsh consequences of coal and other nonrenewable forms of energy.