We don’t need air pollution…

Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar city is increasing year by year. Air Pollution is caused by the cold weather, the wind flow is reversed, no wind flows, and the phenomenon of air pollution in the city increases. The composition of the air pollution is sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, and carbon monoxide, which mainly cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Phased measures should be taken to reduce air pollution in the city. The main method of countries that have gotten rid of air pollution is to stop burning coal and implement a system to support and encourage the use of gas and electric heating instead. Our country has been spending a lot of money on stoves and fuel to reduce air pollution for several years, but it is not producing results. The following methods against air pollution in a phased manner!

The UK’s experience in reducing smog: The UK government passed the Clean Air Act, which dramatically reduced smog and air pollution levels in just one winter, and in just four years, London was completely free of air pollution. The government reduced the use of solid fuels and encouraged the use of electricity and gas, moved large factories out of cities and residential areas, and gradually relocated power plants to less populated areas. London also created “Air Control Zones” and switched to using only washed coal, electricity, and natural gas, which helped reduce and gradually eliminate air pollution. With 100% government support, all homes were equipped with energy-efficient heaters that could heat the entire home, and all stoves were replaced with natural gas or gas stoves. This helped households and businesses reduce their electricity bills, thereby solving household air pollution. Recently, the government has reduced the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by cars that use natural gas instead of diesel and gasoline. It has also reduced the concentration of people by moving large factories out of the city and reducing the amount of taxes paid by people who migrate to the country following industrialization.

China’s experience in reducing smog: Many measures such as closing small factories that emit a lot of carbon dioxide, increasing green spaces, promoting the use of electric vehicles, and setting up special air pollution police patrols have reduced Beijing’s smog levels by 35%. New technologies are being tested. The world’s largest air purification tower was built in Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China. Since the 100-meter-high air purifier was put into operation, the air quality in Xi’an has improved significantly over an area of ​​10 square kilometers. Chinese authorities have set a goal of becoming the world’s leading in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Therefore, we actively support the use of electric and hybrid vehicles and aim to gradually convert all vehicles to electric.

Issues to consider in reducing emissions in Ulaanbaatar:

• It is necessary to improve urban planning. Redevelopment of ger districts into housing and a large increase in green spaces.

• It is necessary to develop affordable rental housing for young people, new families, and rural residents – Rural residents start building ger houses in ger districts when they move to the city, which is another additional chimney.

• It is necessary to increase electricity and heat sources. Urgently put into operation a new power plant and provide ger residents with the opportunity to heat their homes and cottages with cheap electricity.

• Support and encourage them to solve their heating problems with electricity, gas, and other eco-sources

• It is necessary to reduce centralization and develop satellite cities. This will spread the population density.

• Do not light fires within 15-20 km of the city and emit smoke. Work in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies

• It is necessary to reduce vehicle emissions. Vehicles older than 20 years should not be allowed to enter designated areas of the city, and multi-storey heated parking lots should be built with the participation of the private sector, so that the need to use gas to heat cars in the cold will be reduced.

• It is necessary to eliminate smoke emissions by installing filters in the exhaust of small and large power plants that produce thermal electricity. Introduce good practices in developed countries that use water and other types of filters in the smoke produced by the production of thermal electricity

• It is necessary to improve the monitoring system

HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICY INSTITUTE OF MONGOLIA