Ulaanbaatar: a warning from the coldest capital on Earth

The podcast episode focuses on the worsening conditions in Mongolia, particularly highlighting the struggle between traditional nomadic lifestyles and urbanization. In the past, the majority of Mongolians lived nomadically, herding animals across vast grasslands. However, as climate change causes more extreme weather patterns, many herders are losing their livestock, leading them to migrate to the cities, particularly Ulaanbaatar. This urban migration has resulted in a significant increase in the city’s population, which now exceeds 2 million, leading to overcrowded living conditions.

The cold winters in Mongolia are becoming harsher, affecting herding communities as extreme cold impacts the availability of food for livestock, resulting in millions of animal deaths and crippling the herding economy. The nomadic lifestyle, which has been part of Mongolia's identity for centuries, is in jeopardy as families are forced into the capital to seek employment.

Ulaanbaatar, known as the coldest capital in the world, faces a severe air pollution crisis. During the winter months, many residents burn coal to heat their homes, leading to dangerously high levels of PM2.5 particles in the air, far exceeding safe limits set by the World Health Organization. The Mongolian government has introduced limited measures to combat this pollution, but with coal being a major source of revenue, substantial changes are slow.

Moreover, this pollution poses serious health risks, with increasing rates of respiratory issues, especially among children. There are discussions about the nomadic lifestyle potentially offering lessons for urban living, particularly in understanding and adapting to nature rather than attempting to control it. As climate change becomes increasingly unavoidable, insights from nomadic culture may provide valuable perspectives on sustainable living and urban planning.