Mongolia
Climate change impacts
It takes only 190 days for the average Canadian to produce as much greenhouse gases as the average Mongolian will produce over the course of the entire year. Therefore, July 9th (190 days into the year) is "Climate Change Impacts in Mongolia Day."
WWF’s Overview of Climate Change Issues in Mongolia discusses how in recent years, “natural disasters like extreme hot and cold weather, drought, flood and sand storms in Mongolia has increased. For example, Zud disaster in winter and drought in summer of 1999-2002, which affected 50-70% of Mongolia’s territory, caused devastating damage in animal husbandry and agriculture. Zud is one of the natural winter disaster derived by climatic factor that is observed in Mongolia.”
Climate change is also affecting water resources in Mongolia. Melting of mountain glaciers has increased lake waters levels by 1-2 metres during the last 40 years. Meanwhile, the “ground water table is decreasing in arid regions, and degradation and desertification of the land due to shortage of water and precipitation have been intensifying.”
For more information on climate change impacts in Mongolia, continue reading WWF’s Overview of Climate Change Issues in Mongolia.
Story
“My name is Marush Narankhuu and I am 67 years old. This is my homeland- Tsagaan gol (White river) at the Chandmani soum of Khovd aimag. My ancestors lived here as herdsmen for long time.
I have been a herdsman almost from my birth and I did not attend school. I gave birth to 14 children, four of whom became herdsmen while the others live in the cities.
This place was really beautiful, when I was young. There was grass everywhere and we had great and rich summers, winters, spring and fall. The herdsmen used to come from the nearest soum, Mankhan, Chandmani and Zereg for the pasture. We had had a peaceful life all around the lake.
The water used to reach the straw around this part of the lake. This grass used to be all water and the lake used to be start from where the straw is. But the water level declined severely and now even the cattle cannot drink from here.”
Read the rest of Marush’s story at WWF's Climate Witness page.
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