Mongolia

In recent years Mongolia has joined 14 environment-related UN conventions and treaties, including the UNFCCC. Since 1992, the Parliament has passed several laws and regulations on environmental protection, such as the Law on Environmental Protection (1995, amended in 2007), the Water Law (2004), the Forest Law (2012, last amended in 2013), the Law on Air (1995, amended in 2012), the Energy Law (2001) and the Disaster Prevention Law (2003). The government has also introduced a number of action plans, including the Mongolian Environmental Action Plan, The Mongolian Action Programme for the 21st Century (MAP 21), the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, the Action Programme to Protect Air Quality, and the National Action Programme to Protect the Ozone Layer. MAP 21 includes concrete considerations and recommendations related to adaptation to climate change and mitigation of GHGs emissions. The Law on Air Quality and the Law on Environmental Protection are also central legal instruments for climate change related issues.

The National Action Programme on Climate Change (NAPCC) is the most relevant policy document addressing climate change. It was approved by Parliament in 2011 and intends to meet UNFCCC obligations and commitments, establishing national policy and strategy to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change and to mitigate GHG emissions. The NAPCC is to be implemented in two phases. The first phase (2011-2016) aims to strengthen national mitigation and adaptation capacity, setting up the legal environment, structure, institutional and management system, and improving community and public awareness and participation in climate change activities. The second phase (2017-2021) aims to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

Mongolia has also developed the Climate Change Co-ordination Office (CCCO) to carry out the activities necessary to implement the commitments and duties under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, to manage nationwide activities, and to integrate climate change-related issues in various sectors. The inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral National Climate Committee (NCC), now led by the Ministry of Environment and Green Development, co-ordinates and guides national activities and measures to adapt to climate change and mitigate GHG emissions. High level officials such as Deputy Ministers, State Secretaries and Director-Generals of the main Departments of all related ministries, agencies and other key officials are members of the NCC.

Other entities involved in climate change and energy policy include the CDM Bureau, the National Renewable Energy Centre, and the Clean Air Foundation. The National Agency for Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment Monitoring (NAMHEM) monitors the environment and climate, carrying out a range of climate change studies and research. In addition, the government is working to raise public awareness on climate change and its impacts.

In June 2014, the Parliament approved the Green Development Policy (GDP). The GDP was drafted by a working group within the Ministry of Environment and Green Development in response to the Rio +20 conference in 2012. Two high-level documents were prepared to formally establish the GDP: the Green Development Concept, and the Mid-term Programme on Green Development. The concept paper determines the goals and purposes for green development until 2030, whereas the Mid-term Programme designs policy and strategies to ensure these goals and purposes are implemented.

The GDP benefited from the “Strategies for Development of Green Energy Systems in Mongolia”. The project involved the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and a governmental Advisory Committee comprised of officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Environment and Green Development, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Renewable Energy Centre, and the Mongolian Energy Association. Using information about energy needs, resources, and infrastructure, the project developed a quantitative computer model of current energy use and GHG emissions. The team then used the model to develop four scenarios for potential energy futures and GHG emissions through 2035.

Mongolia will become the first country to benefit from the new Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE). PAGE is a response to the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which recognises the green economy as a vehicle for sustainable development and poverty eradication. This partnership brings together the UNDP, GGGI and other global agencies to support Mongolia in refining and implementing its Green Development Strategy. An initial economic analysis of the country and a green jobs mapping study have been completed.

Energy supply

Despite the intensive use of coal, Mongolia has considerable renewable energy resources. The strategies for sustainable development and GHG reduction in the energy sector are focused on renewable and other clean energy use, clean coal, improving the efficiency of energy supply, and energy efficiency improvement in buildings and industry. Small-scale hydro-power plants produce less than 1% of the total energy generation but according to the “Master Plan Study for Rural Power Supply by Renewable Energy in Mongolia”, by the end of 2020 up to 20% of the country’s electricity will be supplied from renewable energy sources.

Mongolia’s Second National Communication lists a number of strategies to reduce GHG emissions from the energy sector, including a National Renewable Energy Programme, the Renewable Energy Law, the 100,000 solar ‘ger’ (round shaped traditional Mongolian dwelling consisting of a wooden frame beneath several layers of wool felt) programme, energy supply by solar, wind and diesel hybrid systems, and the implementation of the National Programme of LPG use. Other strategies involve improving the efficiency of energy supply, promoting clean coal technology, and a study of nuclear power development.

The National Renewable Energy Programme (2005-2020) established a long-term goal of 20-25% total installed capacity generated from renewable sources by 2020. Phase one of the project (2005 to 2010) saw the construction of 12MW and 11MW hydropower plants in Durgun and Taishir. Additionally, 12 renewable energy systems with a capacity of 60-150kW were constructed. The target of 3-5% of renewables sourced capacity was achieved for phase one. The programme is currently in its second phase (2010 to 2020). The latest development is a 50MW wind power project, the first large-scale wind scheme in the country, that will reduce emissions by about 180,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) per year and cut coal consumption by 122,000 tons annually.

The Renewable Energy Law (2007), further regulates the renewable energy power generation. It provides a feed-in tariff for the grid and the independent power generation from renewable energy. Any price difference of electricity generated by a renewable energy power source that is connected to a transmission network shall be absorbed into the selling price from other power plants on the grid. The Ministry of Energy is planning to change the structure of the sector and amend the Law to provide better conditions for private companies to import technology and invest in the sector.

Energy demand

Emissions intensity per unit of GDP is among the world’s highest. Coal comprises about 98% of total solid fuel consumption. About 23% of the coal is used in electrical power stations and increased energy consumption is resulting in increased GHG emissions. The priority for the energy sector is to reduce fuel consumption. About 40% of heat generated by burning fuel is lost.

Resolution No. 72 (2000), established that by 2014 the energy sector should operate without incurring losses. The Building Law, Housing Law, and Urban Planning Law provide a legal basis for updating building code energy efficiency provisions systems. A Draft Energy Conservation Law is under discussion, and it is expected that it will be approved by the Parliament within the next months.

Between 2009 and 2013 the UNDP supported the Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) to help cut GHG emissions by transforming the buildings market towards more energy-efficient building technologies and services, sustainable private house insulation and energy efficiency financing mechanisms. Another project, supported by GIZ, the German development agency, is helping the Energy Authority and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy to improve energy efficiency in power stations and on the demand side.

REDD+ and LULUCF

Since 1990 the legal framework of forestry sector has changed several times. There are three primary forest laws: the Forest Law (2012, amended in 2013), the Law on Forest and Grassland Fire Protection (1996), and the Law on Fees for Harvest of Timber and Fuel Wood (1995). These laws are the basic framework for protection, use and generation of forests and forests resources. Animal husbandry is the main source of livelihoods and a major sector of the economy.

Mongolia became a partner country of the UN-REDD Programme in 2011. Since then, FAO and UNDP have assisted the government in developing the National REDD+ Readiness Roadmap. The Roadmap was prepared by a taskforce of 20 members and includes a broad range of representatives from different government sectors, the private sector and civil society. In July 2014 Mongolia’s REDD+ Readiness Roadmap was completed and endorsed by the stakeholders. As a result, Mongolia has the first boreal forest National Programme to be funded by the UN-REDD Programme. 

Transportation

The government has encouraged the use of fuel-efficient cars as well as hybrid fuel cars in order to reduce the negative impact of cars on environment and human health. The Excise Duty Tax Law (2006) cut import taxes on hybrid vehicles and increased taxes on used cars. From 2011, public transportation vehicles more than 12 years old and taxis more than 10 years old were banned. Parliament also approved the Law on Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals (2006), the Law on Technology Transfer (1998) and the Law on Science and Technology (2006) to improve legal conditions for the transfer of modern technology for development sectors including transportation.

Adaptation

Climate change will exacerbate existing natural resource concerns, such as a diminution of water resources and desertification. Desertification has become a national disaster, affecting more than 70% of grassland. According to a recent study by the Asian Development Bank on the economics of climate change in East Asia, under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, Mongolia will be the country most severely affected. A comprehensive assessment of the climatic situation, including future climate scenario and vulnerabilities, is found in the First and Second Assessment Report on Climate Change (MARCC, 2009 and 2014), published by the Ministry of Environment, Nature and Tourism.

The National Development Strategy of 2008 defines the country’s policy up to the year 2021. The strategy calls for the promotion of Mongolia’s “capacity to adapt to climate change and desertification, to reduce their negative impacts”, with adaptation activities and measures identified.

The Second National Communication to the UNFCCC lists a number of priority adaptation options and measures in different sectors vulnerable to climate change: animal husbandry, arable farming, water resources, human health and forestry. Within these sectors, strategies and measures to combat land and pasture degradation and desertification are identified in the 2010 National Programme to Combat Desertification and in the National Programme for Climate Change.

The government also approved The Livestock Programme, which includes directives relevant for climate change adaptation in animal husbandry. A study for the National Climate Risk Management Strategy was prepared in 2009. The Plan seeks to build climate resilience at the community level through reducing risk, and facilitating adaptation.