Waste and Climate Change: Fact Sheet Mongolia

Abstract

In Mongolia, approximately 50 percent of the country's population of3 million lives in the capital city ofUlaanbaatar. Because of rapid urbanization, more than half of Ulaanbaatar today consists of ger areas: large, unplanned settlements that are home to almost 60 percent of the city's population. These low-density settlements lack the most basic services, includ­ ing solid waste management. Service improvements have been limited due to poor planning, underinvestment, a lack of information, weak accountabilitystructures, corruption and ineffective incentive mechanisms. Irregular service and the illegal dumping of trash in public spaces is a constant complaint among ger-area residents. Open burning that releases short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and other hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere is common practice. These are threats to public health and the environment, impacting water, soil and air contamination. As a result, the city faces increased green-house gas (GHG) and SLCP emissions.