Mongolia Tackles Climate Change with Innovative Risk Management Strategies
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - As the effects of climate change continue to ravage Mongolia’s fragile ecosystem, a new project aims to strengthen the resilience of herder communities by adopting innovative risk management strategies.
The Impact of Climate Change on Mongolia
- Observed temperature increase of 2.1 degrees Celsius over the past seven decades
- Rising temperatures and decreased precipitation have resulted in a drying trend, impacting pastures and water sources, and shifting natural zones
- Herder households, comprising nearly a third of the population, are particularly vulnerable to these changes
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s Initiative
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, supported by the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched a seven-year project to address climate change impacts on herder livelihoods and natural resources.
Project Objectives
- Integrate climate information into land and water use planning
- Scale up climate-resilient water and soil management practices
- Build herder capacity to access markets for sustainably sourced livestock products
How the Project Will Achieve Its Goals
- Enhance the technical capacity of national and sub-national authorities for long-term climate resilient development planning
- Integrate climate change and carrying capacity into aimag and soum level development plans, and provide analytical products to support policy and regulatory transformations promoting sustainable land and water management
- Apply ecosystem-based adaptation measures to protect land and natural water resources
- Establish or rehabilitate water wells for livestock
- Support the planned policy transformations under the National Mongolian Livestock Programme
Public-Private-Community Partnerships
The initiative aims to identify public-private-community partnerships for sustainably sourced, climate-resilient livestock products and establish Herder Producer Organizations (cooperatives) to promote sustainable production practices.
Additional Activities
- Provide training on business and market-specific skills
- Support the establishment of emergency fodder storage facilities and haymaking areas
Conclusion
By adopting these innovative risk management strategies, Mongolia can mitigate the impacts of climate change on herder livelihoods and natural resources, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future for the country.