Mongolia Turns Focus to Risk Management as Climate Change Looms Large

Climate Change Devastates Mongolia

Mongolia is shifting its attention towards risk management in an effort to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, which have been exacerbated by climate change. The country has experienced warming temperatures at almost three times the rate of the global average over the past 70 years, leading to a significant increase in droughts, flooding, dust and sandstorms, wildfires, earthquakes, and dzuds.

The Devastating Impact of Dzuds

Dzuds have had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of herders, with the proportion of Mongolians whose primary livelihood is herding plummeting from 50% to 25% over the past three decades. The disaster has also driven an alarming increase in rural-urban internal migration, as former herders move to informal settlements on the outskirts of the capital.

Mongolia’s Response

In response to these challenges, Mongolia established the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in 2004, which provides administration, coordination, and direct assistance during disasters. The country has also emphasized early warning, preparedness, and mitigation efforts, with a key part being the utilization of risk maps produced by the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring in coordination with partners.

Risk Maps and Community-Based Disaster Reduction

A good example is the dzud risk maps, which are used to determine when to release forecast-based financing to the people most at risk in order to stave off the most devastating disaster effects. Mongolia has also increased community-based disaster reduction efforts, passing the National Program for Community- based Disaster Reduction in 2015 and fulfilling the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction goals.

International Cooperation

Mongolia’s relationship with the US is critical in its approach to disaster management. The two countries undertake an annual disaster management-related exercise, the GOBI WOLF series, to rehearse disaster responses and implement new best practices as the fields of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) evolve.

Third Neighbor Policy

Mongolia’s Third Neighbor Policy is a cornerstone for relationships with countries other than Russia or China. The policy started shortly after the country transitioned to a market-based economy in the 1990s and has since achieved significant economic development due largely to the increase in mining, the principal component of national revenue.

The Future of Risk Management

However, the Third Neighbor policy is critical for more than just economic growth as it allows Mongolia to build diverse, global partnerships in security, including disaster management. As climate change continues to pose a major threat to the country’s stability and prosperity, risk management will be a key area of focus for Mongolia in the years to come.

Praise from the UN

Mizutori Mami, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction, praised Mongolia’s efforts, stating that they are a great example of world’s best practices.