While Ulaanbaater, Mongolia’s metropolis, was hovering around the number 3 spot for the world's air polluted capitals, the city reportedly saw a reduction of 50% in air pollution this last winter due to the city wide ban of burning raw coal for households, entities and organizations (not power plants). This action was not only a big defense against air pollution but also a significant legal triumph, considering Mongolia has gone through four governments since 2011. In the fourth episode of Air Pollution in Central Asia, we hear from Erdene Batzorig, the Head of Mongolian Environmental Civil Council (see www.mecc.mnfor organization), and she shares with us her thoughts on the current relationship between the Mongolian government and CSOs, wide-spread indoor pollution due to poor insulation and much more. 

Subjects by time:

0:28 NGOs in Mongolia 

2:05 Relationship between CSOs and the government

4:30 NGO monitoring of mining companies, waste management

5:18 Causes of Pollution

6:52 Banning citizens and small businesses from burning raw coal

7:51 2019/2020 Air pollution level reduction

9:02 Scope of raw coal ban

10:14 Monitoring air pollution. Government and CSOs.

11:37 Negative health effects

12:38 Insulation material standards 

15:17 COVID-19 cases

15:54 Lockdown measures

16:54 Government actions towards air pollution reduction

19:10 Cleaner energy solutions

20:00 The government since 2011 and NGOs

22:25 Two new factories for improved coal

23:08 NGO fundraising

23:27 NGOs using media and TV