Indoor Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ULAANBAATAR 000051 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CORRECTED ADDEE) SIPDIS STATE PASS EPA STATE FOR OES/IHA DWILUSZ, EAP/CM, AND EAP/EX USAID/W FOR ANE/ESA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG EAID PGOV AMGT AMED MG SUBJECT: Indoor Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Ref: A) 06 State 192919, B) 06 ULAANBAATAR 105 ULAANBAATA 00000051 001.3 OF 003 ¶1. SUMMARY: While indoor air pollution (IAP) is certainly a problem in Mongolia, there are no major donor or government initiatives underway at this time to address it as a separate issue. Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, suffers from extreme air pollution from coal smoke emitted from combined heat power facilities that provide central heating and electricity to the city's apartment dwellers, from coal and biomass fuel burning in stoves used in houses and ger (traditional Mongolian tent with wood frame and felt covering),and from the growing number of cars, many of which are poorly maintained. (See ref B.) This air pollution - which is at its worst during the 4-5 month long winters - leads to increased respiratory disease, restricts visibility, and has even begun to cause flight delays. Any initiatives regarding IAP should begin with broader efforts to tackle the problem of air pollution generally. These efforts should focus on increasing the efficiency of existing energy infrastructure, increasing the use of cleaner fuels, and creating incentives for the use of cleaner heating technologies in gers and houses that are not on the central heat and electricity grid. END SUMMARY. Air pollution and Its Sources -------------- ¶2. There is no distinction between IAP and outdoor AP (OAP) in Mongolia. The media and the official government documents use the general term "air pollution," which has become a major focus of media attention in recent weeks. Ulaanbaatar is located in the Tuul River basin and is surrounded by mountains. Therefore, the city gets little relief from the massive air pollution - largely smoke from the burning of low-grade coal - generated during the winter months. Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar during the winter months exceeds locally permitted levels by five to six times. The pall of smoke is so bad in the mornings and evenings that people who live in ger (traditional Mongolian home) districts on the edge of town cannot even see each other from further than a couplu me|Err."Som%-Bil|bntaknil"fLi'hf3haru(gmn een`yud$d|e"|o"%Ou hwri8_"+erEdQQ":O