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As Monday comes, protests rise in Mongolia's main square, fueled by the growing air pollution. The harsh winter amplifies public frustration with government bureaucracy, and these protests have become a winter tradition, with people demanding action on environmental issues. The biting cold pushes citizens to voice their dissatisfaction each year, making it an annual call for change. 😷

Today’s newsletter in 3 sentences…

• ✅ Parliament supports budget revision

• 🇲🇳 Mongolia's UNESCO Heritage

• 🤐 Country Where A Nation Gasping for Air

Let’s Dive In. 🌊

MARKET

• MNG: Parliament supports the discussion of the revised 2025 budget, reflecting a ₮2.3 trillion reduction.

• ADB: Asian Development Bank, Xacbank sign $50 Million deal to boost climate and MSME financing in Mongolia.

• MSE: Innovation Investment (QPAY) upgrades its listing status from category III to category II on the MSE.

• EU: The European Union and the United Nations support Mongolia’s progress in public finance and decent work.

🇲🇳 Mongolia's Heritage: New Additions and Shared Traditions

Mongolia’s cultural heritage gains global recognition, with the recent inclusion of “Novruz” on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This addition, alongside Mongolian Nomadic Rituals, marks the 17th heritage from Mongolia to be inscribed. The Mongolian Nomadic Rituals involve a complex system of traditional knowledge, including practices for migration routes, livestock herding, and environmental protection, all of which reflect Mongolia's deep-rooted nomadic traditions.

🏆 Achievements in UNESCO's Heritage Listing

Since Mongolia joins the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, it registers 17 cultural practices between 2008 and 2024. Of these, 10 are in the Humanity category, and 7 are in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Cross-Border Heritage

However, it is crucial to recognize that Mongolia's rich heritage is not limited to its national borders. Many practices originating from Mongolia are also claimed by neighboring countries. Nomadic culture, including migration and herding methods, is shared with China, particularly in Inner Mongolia, where these traditional practices continue to shape daily life. Similarly, horse culture, an iconic aspect of Mongolian identity, is deeply rooted in both Turkey and Kazakhstan, countries with historical ties to Mongolian Turkic ancestors.

🤔 Challenges in Preserving and Celebrating Shared Heritage

The shared nature of these cultural practices presents challenges in preserving and celebrating them exclusively as Mongolian traditions. As Mongolia seeks to safeguard and promote its cultural heritage on the global stage, it must navigate the complexities of heritage overlap with its neighbors. This global safeguarding involves acknowledging the distinctive Mongolian origin of these practices while recognizing their interconnectedness with other nomadic cultures across Central Asia. 

Overall, Mongolia continues to collaborate with UNESCO and international partners, ensuring the protection and celebration of its unique cultural heritage while addressing the challenges posed by the cross-border nature of these traditions.

🤐 Country Where A Nation Gasping for Air

In Mongolia, almost 90% of the country’s energy supply is consumed for heating purposes, with coal dominating as the primary energy source. While it keeps homes warm during the brutal winters, this reliance on coal has unleashed a public health and environmental crisis, contributing to severe greenhouse gas emissions and staggering air pollution levels.

💵🤕 The Cost of Breathing

Each year, 300 Mongolians die due to air pollution-related illnesses, including 240 children under 5. On the coldest winter days, Ulaanbaatar's PM2.5 levels soar to an alarming 687 micrograms per cubic meter, 27 times above the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit. The capital city is ranked 2nd globally on the list of most polluted cities, and the classification "Very Unhealthy" barely scratches the surface of the problem.

• This pollution isn’t just choking the air. It’s eroding the health of Mongolia’s population. Respiratory diseases, cancer, mental health decline, and neurological damage are only part of the toll. 

• The economic translation? Indoor air pollution alone costs Mongolia ₮47 billion in annual health expenditures, while the broader environmental damage from pollution tallies up to ₮360 billion annually. Cumulatively, the economic loss equals a staggering ₮3.9 trillion or 7.6% of Mongolia’s GDP.

🏭 The Urban Factor

Nearly half the population lives in Ulaanbaatar, packed into 0.3% of Mongolia’s territory. Of these, 53% reside in ger districts, where raw coal burning generates 70%–80% of the city’s air pollution. 

• 📑The government introduced charcoal briquettes in 2018 through Tavantolgoi Fuel LLC. While this initiative promised cleaner air, Mongolians are still breathing toxic smog six years later. The incremental improvements have been far from sufficient.

• 🤏 Hollow promises: Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene’s remark, “Nobody expected that we could reduce air pollution within a year by 50%. Our lungs testify to it,” feels painfully ironic. For many, toxic air continues to exacerbate stillbirths, pneumonia, asthma, and nerve damage, overshadowing any proclaimed progress.

📢 A Wake-Up Call

Mongolia’s reliance on coal and its insufficient policy responses are a glaring reminder of the cost of short-term solutions. For the world, Ulaanbaatar serves as a cautionary tale of how unchecked urbanization and outdated energy policies can create a health and economic catastrophe. For Mongolians, it’s an urgent call to demand sustainable solutions that prioritize clean energy, health, and the environment. Ulaanbaatar’s toxic air serves as a grim reminder, “Every breath is a plea for change”.

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⭐ Selected for you

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

• Rio Tinto targets higher copper production in 2025 driven by Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi. (SeekingAlpha)

• Mongolia Eyes India as Third Destination for Coal Exports. (TheDiplomat)

• ADB signs a $13.5 million senior secured loan with Orchlon School and Kindergarten Complex. (DevdisCourse)

• Mongolia Exports Over 74 Mln Tons Of Coal. (UrduPoint)

POLITICS

• Mongolia Sees Value in Virtual Collaborations. (PeaceCorps)

• Mongolia: RSF Presents Its Recommendations to Strengthen Ambitious Press Freedom Bill. (RSF)

• Media Professionals in Mongolia Embrace Disability Equality with UNESCO Support. (UNESCO)

• Mongolia Market is Opening to Armenia. (News.Am)

• UAE President, Mongolian PM Explore Ways to Strengthen Bilateral Ties. (GulfToday)

• United States Empowers Mongolia’s SMEs: $100M in Loans Secured, 4,000 New Jobs Created. (USEmbassy)

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

• Why Young Families are Flocking to the Countryside? (GlobalPressJournal)

• The Wishing Tree & The Job Interview Headed to Mongolia. (WorldScreen)

• The MongolZ, Team Vitality Off to Strong Starts in CS2 Shanghai Major Elimination Stage. (Gosugamers)

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Publisher: Ts.Ankhbayar
Writer: M.Khulan
Graphics by: Ts.Tselmeg

Disclaimer: The information Inside Mongolia provides is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be or constitute financial advice, trading advice, or any other advice. The decision whether to consider the information we provide is solely our readers' independent decision.