Ulaanbaatar is the second most polluted city in the world

Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia

Air pollution claims thousands and thousands of lives a year in all countries. If you are used to hearing the "hell" they have in China, specifically in BeijingWith air pollution, this will surprise you. While the World Health Organization (WHO) sets the maximum for particles at 25 micrograms per cubic meter, in Beijing it reaches 500.

But the thing is not there, in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), which is where we are going to talk today, concentrations of 1.600 micrograms per cubic meter are reached, that is, 65 times more than that recommended by the WHO. Why are these apocalyptic concentrations being reached?

The main cause of pollution in Ulaanbaatar

air pollution in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia and has the lowest population density in the world. In addition to having intense blue skies and vast grasslands, it is one of the most polluted cities on the planet. Why is this if the population is very low?

In Beijing, air pollution comes from traffic and industry. However, the main cause of pollution in the Mongolian capital is attributed to the smoke generated in urban yurts. What are urban yurts? These are the traditional prairie dwellings that many rural immigrants take with them when they settle in Ulaanbaatar.

Smoke from urban yurts

fumes from urban yurts

The origin of the smog in the Mongolian capital comes from the neighborhoods of yurts and huts on the outskirts of the city, where thousands of people use coal stoves to warm themselves. This is a cheap and effective method in the extreme Mongolian winter -with temperatures of up to 50 degrees below zero- but highly polluting.

High pollution causes a layer of toxic mist to form in winters and triggers respiratory diseases. High levels of pollution have meant that in 2013 the city of Ulaanbaatar was ranked as the second worst air quality city in the world, according to a list drawn up by the WHO.

The smog is compounded by the fact that Ulaanbaatar is surrounded by mountains, making it difficult for air to circulate that the polluting fog can carry away. Citizens have held two massive protests against air pollution in the largest square in the city. To demonstrate, thousands of residents have come to the square with masks and banners in which they affirm "can not breath" due to the high levels of contamination and they asked the Government to take measures to alleviate this situation.

Solve problems at the root

urban yurt in Ulaanbaatar

From the Ministry of the Environment, the person in charge of the fight against pollution, Gunbileg Lkhagvasuren, defends that the main cause of atmospheric pollution is in the yurt neighborhoods, and that citizens have the main key to solve it, with a more rational use of fuels.

In the Mongolian capital 80% of the pollution comes from yurts, 10% from traffic, 6% from thermal power plants and 4% from floating particles. That is why yurts should be emphasized, since they correspond to the majority of the cause of heavy pollution.

One of the solutions proposed by the Government is to promote the use of electric heaters in the poorest neighborhoods instead of using coal stoves. From January 1, electricity in those yurts and cabins is free at night, which together with the promotion of more efficient coal stoves has been the main effort of the authorities to reduce pollution.

However, according to citizens and travelers, the government says it will not charge for electricity, but its power plants continue to produce pollution. In addition, there are people who are reluctant to change the heaters due to mistrust about them, heating of cables or incorrect cables, etc.


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