Mongolia – the intertwined issue of air and soil pollution in Ulaanbaatar

This case study examines the intersection of air and soil pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, specifically within 'ger' districts where vulnerable populations rely on coal for heating. It details the efforts of the Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Centre (EPCRC), supported by the Green Economy Coalition, to implement participatory solutions, influence national green policy, and advocate for the rights of women entrepreneurs.

• Ulaanbaatar's 'ger' districts, which house 60% of the city's population, suffer from severe air and soil pollution caused by the use of subsidised unwashed coal for heating during winters where temperatures can drop below -40c. While a 2018 government ban on raw coal and the introduction of fuel-efficient compressed briquettes have helped mitigate air pollution, soil pollution remains a critical issue, particularly during spring snow melts when coal dust percolates into the ground water and soil.
• The Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Centre (EPCRC) has used a systemic inquiry approach and participatory methodology to address pollution and advocate for a green economy. This included a pilot with 120 households in one ger district that led to a 'Soil Pollution Campaign' focused on improving toilets to prevent soil contamination, as well as dialogue events that engaged citizens, local enterprises, and commercial banks regarding green financing for MSMEs.
• EPCRC's advocacy and research have contributed to several national policy developments in Mongolia. Their work influenced the 'Green Development Policy of Mongolia', which was later integrated into 'Mongolia’s Vision-2050'. Additionally, the organization contributed to the 'Green Economy Policy Assessment: Mongolia' (2018) via the UN's PAGE initiative and the 'Green Economy Policy Review of Mongolia’s Green Development Policy: Mid-Term Review' (2021) via UNEP.
• The project has integrated gender and youth perspectives into its green economy framework. Recommendations from finance dialogues led to the drafting of a new 'Law on Enhancing Economic Participation of Women Entrepreneurs' to address limitations in finance access for women. Furthermore, collaborations with universities have resulted in the inclusion of renewable energy and the green economy in academic curricula.

APA

Khan, Z. (2025). Mongolia – the intertwined issue of air and soil pollution in Ulaanbaatar. Green Economy Coalition. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/mongolia-the-intertwined-issue-of-air-and-soil-pollution-in-ulaanbaatar

Chicago

Khan, Zaiza. Mongolia – the intertwined issue of air and soil pollution in Ulaanbaatar. Green Economy Coalition, 2025. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/mongolia-the-intertwined-issue-of-air-and-soil-pollution-in-ulaanbaatar.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Khan |first1=Zaiza |title=Mongolia – the intertwined issue of air and soil pollution in Ulaanbaatar |publisher=Green Economy Coalition |date=22 May 2025 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/mongolia-the-intertwined-issue-of-air-and-soil-pollution-in-ulaanbaatar |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{khan2025mongolia, author = {Khan, Zaiza}, title = {{Mongolia – the intertwined issue of air and soil pollution in Ulaanbaatar}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/mongolia-the-intertwined-issue-of-air-and-soil-pollution-in-ulaanbaatar}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }