Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar: A growing problem
Air pollution is a global problem that affects millions of people, but there are areas of the world where this situation reaches dramatic levels. The capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is one of those places where pollution levels have reached exorbitant levels. Every year, thousands of lives are lost due to air pollution, and the figures in Ulaanbaatar are alarming.
While we are used to hearing about pollution in cities like Beijing, where levels of suspended particles can reach 500 micrograms per cubic meter, in Ulaanbaatar, concentrations reach 1.600 micrograms per cubic meter, what it is 65 times more than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The main cause of pollution in Ulaanbaatar
Paradoxically, Ulaanbaatar is a city with a low population density, but despite its vast grasslands and clear skies, it has become one of the cities most polluted in the world. The main source of pollution in the city is not traffic or heavy industry, as is the case in more densely populated cities. The key factor of pollution in Ulaanbaatar is the urban yurts.
Yurts are the traditional dwellings used by nomadic communities in the Mongolian grasslands, but as rural people have moved to the capital in search of opportunities, these dwellings have been set up in the city's suburbs. In Mongolia's extremely cold winters, families living in these yurts use stoves fueled by carbon to heat up, which generates large amounts of smoke and polluting particles.
The impact of coal use on health
The use of coal for heating is an almost obligatory measure in Ulaanbaatar, where temperatures can reach 100 ° C. -50ºC in winterHowever, this cheap and easily accessible resource comes at a high cost: the health of citizens. Coal generates large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and suspended particles that worsen air quality and form a dense layer of smog known as PM2.5 y PM10These particles enter the lungs and cause serious long-term damage.
In addition, high levels of pollution are affecting the most vulnerable sectors of the population, especially those childrenAccording to organizations such as UNICEF, nearly 99% of children in Ulaanbaatar breathe polluted air, which can cause health problems throughout your life, such as chronic respiratory diseases, asthma, bronchitis and even lung cancer in early ages.
In 2013, Ulaanbaatar was ranked as the second city in the world with the worst air quality, and in recent years the situation has been getting worse due to climate change, which contributes to more extreme winters and makes families even more dependent on coal.
Climate change and rural migration
El global warming The problem in Ulaanbaatar has worsened. Winters are becoming increasingly unpredictable, alternating between extreme cold and warm seasons, severely affecting life on the steppes. This has forced thousands of nomadic herders to abandon their lands and move to the capital in search of better opportunities. However, Ulaanbaatar’s infrastructure was not prepared to receive such a flood of migrants, resulting in an uncontrolled expansion of the peripheral neighborhoods, where living conditions are precarious.
The rise in the number of people burning charcoal in yurts has sent pollution in the city soaring. In the colder months, PM2.5 levels can exceed XNUMX 3.000 ميكروغرام per cubic metre, a figure that places Ulaanbaatar among the most polluted cities in the world. According to WHO data, prolonged exposure to these levels of pollution can reduce life expectancy by up to 4 or 5 years.
Actions and solutions against pollution
The Mongolian government, aware of the seriousness of the problem, has implemented various measures to try to reduce pollution. Firstly, the use of Electric heaters in yurts instead of coal stoves. In addition, since 2019, electricity has been free at night for families living in the poorest areas. However, these measures are insufficient in the face of the scale of the problem.
One of the main difficulties is the cost of cleaner technologies. Although more efficient electric heaters and coal stoves have been subsidized, many families do not trust them or cannot afford the costs, which perpetuates the use of traditional coal. In addition, the thermal power plants Ulaanbaatar's airfields continue to operate at full capacity, contributing 6% of air pollution.
Despite government efforts, such as banning the use of raw coal in 2019, the problem persists. charcoal briquettes, which were promoted to reduce pollution, are more expensive and not all families can afford them, which limits their adoption. On the other hand, Mongolia's dependence on coal remains a major obstacle. Investment in renewable energy is still insufficient, even though Mongolia has high potential for development. solar and wind energy.
Authorities are also trying to stem migration to the capital through rural development programmes that aim to improve living conditions in the provinces and stem the exodus to Ulaanbaatar, but improving infrastructure and creating jobs are tasks that require time and resources.
The outlook is grim for the people of Ulaanbaatar, especially the most vulnerable. Without strong and sustained action, the population of the capital will continue to suffer the serious consequences of air pollution.
Ulaanbaatar faces not only a serious pollution problem that dramatically affects the health of its citizens, but also a structural challenge in the face of uncontrolled growth and a hostile climate environment. Although measures are being taken to alleviate pollution, dependence on coal and economic difficulties make change slow and complicated. In a context where air quality deteriorates year after year, the Mongolian capital needs urgent solutions, not only for its present, but to ensure a healthier future.