Update:October 21, 2013

Field Survey for Air Pollution Control in Ulaanbaatar

Summary: ICETT conducted a field survey to collect environmental data and publicize gathered information. A simulation was run based on the data. Countermeasures suitable for the target area were worked out by identifying the cause of air pollution and designating the area for future action.

From October 8 to 13, 2012, ICETT visited Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to carry out a field survey. The three-year program, starting from fiscal 2012, was subsidized by the Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan, ERCA. The purpose of the program is to reduce the air pollution level in Ulaanbaatar, while developing tools to raise awareness of pollution control among the local residents and in the educational field, and then using these tools to cultivate leaders for environmental protection who will encourage residents to voluntarily and continually work on eco-friendly activities. To confer about above-mentioned activities, we visited various places, such as the Ministry of Health, the Municipal Education Bureau, hospitals, and schools.

Ulaanbaatar suffers from increasingly serious air pollution issues, as its population is increasing. Health problems are caused by coal-fired power generation, automobile exhaust in the urban area, and coal burning in the winter at the yurts 70% of its population live in. In these circumstances, ICETT, based on our experience in solving environmental issues in Japan, such as the Yokkaichi pollution, intends to help raise awareness of air quality control, thereby encouraging the local residents to directly engage in efforts to tackle air pollution problems. In December, ICETT is visiting the city again to conduct health surveys at hospitals, and provide opportunities at schools to learn about the Yokkaichi pollution and measure air quality.

　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　First General Hospital　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lesson scene at a junior high school 

　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　Yurt residential quarter　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Stove in the center inside the yurt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　Mongolian noodles and milk (milk mixed with tea and salt)