Ulaanbaatar Makes Concrete Plans to Address Environmental Challenges Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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NEW POlICY ACTION AREAs TO IMPROVE ThE ENVIRONMENT

Inhabitants 1.54 million

GdP per capita $5,653

Geographic area 4,704 km²

ThE ChAllENGE

Citizens in Ulaanbaatar are faced with high levels of air pollution, insufficient urban infrastructure, and poor water quality.

CO-BENEFITs

Economic

Actions related to affordable green housing, utility development, and a circular economy will create a myriad of economic and employment opportunities.

social

The promotion of rainwater harvesting will allow households in unplanned ger settlements to collect drinking water, thus becoming more self-sustainable.

Environmental

Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure provide important ecosystem services in the form of increased biodiversity and soil permeability.

Ulaanbaatar makes Concrete plans to address environmental Challenges

The city’s Green Action Plan lays out 14 tangible project ideas and implementation steps aimed at addressing priority environmental pressures and improving the well-being of all citizens.

Mongolia’s capital city currently finds itself in a somewhat paradoxical situation in terms of climate change vulnerabilities, as Ulaanbaatar is located in a water-scarce area but also regularly faces severe flooding. The city also suffers from poor air quality, primarily due to the use of coal-based heat and inefficient energy systems.

Ulaanbaatar has chosen to prioritize the areas of energy, building efficiency, and land use to decrease pollution, reduce the carbon footprint from heating, and increase the quality of life for residents. To do so, the city has put forth a multisector development plan with a proposed cost of $712 million. It features a compendium of actions that address the unique environmental challenges faced by the city, with concrete targets and estimated costs included.

The 14 action areas include provisions for green housing and ecodistricts, development of a mass transit system, nature-based solutions and “sponge city” design, and improved waste management and sanitation systems.

Urban air pollution. Much of Ulaanbaatar’s energy comes from burning coal, which can create a thick smog over the city, particularly in the winter (photo by ADB).