Ulaanbaater, Mongolia 2013:
Chosen Theme: Think, Eat, Save, Reduce your Footprint
Mongolia was facing challenges to the sustainability of it dood and water supplies, given its high altitude and very sparse population, alongside the growing wealth of its capital Ulaanbaater. They chose to encourage a greener economy as a way to address this, and were chosen as the host city for the 2013 World Environment Day.
A Brief Look at Ulaanbaater in Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, with Russia to the north and China to the south. The country consists largely of a plateau around 1500m above sea level. With a population of 3.3m in a country the size of western Europe it has one of the lowest population densities in the world. Much of the landscape consists of pasturelands which support herds of grazing animals. They are tended by nomadic tribes, moving between summer and winter pastures. The herders generally live in traditional yurts, which are well insulated against hot and cold weather and are easy to transport.
Nearly half the population live in the capital city, Ulaanbaater (you may see other spellings). The location was originally the seasonal home of Mongolian princes but became permanent with the building of a Buddhist monastery in 1639.Today it is a sprawling industrial city of huge contrasts. It is home to several billionaires and many multimillionaires, but also Buddhist monks and visiting herders in more traditional clothing. In recent years Mongolia has faced increasing challenges to the security of its food and water supplies.
Historically mining has been an important economic driver, but the government has recognised this is unsustainable, and has suspended some mining licences. They are seeking alternative ways to strengthen the economy and have chosen to switch to a greener economy including encouraging “green tourism” and investment in solar and wind power. They are also promoting environmental awareness among youth.
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Ideas for Further Study
Find out more about how Ulaanbaater marked 2013 World Environment Day here.
- Why is this theme important to the host city/country?
- Why is the theme important in averting the climate crisis and supporting environmental sustainability?
- How did they raise awareness of its importance?
- What actions arose from this? Is the world in a better place because of it?
- What more might they have done with today’s knowledge?