Mongolia’s Slums: Pollution and Environmental Change

In Mongolia, affordable housing is hard to come by, forcing many people to live in marginal areas, such as atop landfills with little access to clean water or food. Many people in Mongolia rely on farming for their incomes, however climate change has brought on devastating droughts and cold winters. The changing climate has destroyed fields and livestock, ruining many farmers’ chances for economic success. This has only amplified the gap between the wealthy and the poor, stressing the affordable housing capacity, and increasing the amount of pollution with decreasing access to electricity and sanitation systems. Both herders and farmers alike are unable to survive the changing climate, social stratification, and poor living conditions.

This article shows the struggle farmers and herders are facing in societies affected by climate change. Natural resources are important for establishing incomes and maintaining subsistence strategies in nonindustrial segments of countries. When governments do not focus on climate abatement and pollution mitigation strategies, they impact the marginal portions of the population who are most closely connected to the natural environment. Without more regulations on pollution and infrastructure development, farmers and herders will be left subject to the changing environment.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/02/world/asia/mongolia-slums-ulan-bator.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=117&pgtype=sectionfront