100 Climate actions from cities in Asia and the Pacific by Sustainia

100 Climate actions from cities in Asia and the Pacific

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Heating Homes without the Smog

10K applications for installations

Inhabitants 1.54 million GDP per capita $5,653 Geographic area 4,704 km²

THE CHALLENGE Coal use is still widespread in Ulaanbaatar, particularly for residents living in off-grid traditional nomadic dwellings called ger. This is a leading cause of air pollution in the Mongolian capital.

Mongolia’s capital is exploring alternatives to coal to heat homes throughout the harsh winters, reducing the smog that blankets the city during winter months. The city of Ulaanbaatar is taking a range of measures to reduce the reliance on household coal consumption that is currently the biggest cause of air pollution in the city. To complement this approach, the Mongolian gas company, Gas Service Corporation of Mongolia (GASCOM), is offering affordable loans to low-income residents to replace coal burners with gas. GASCOM is offering residents the option to change from coal to gas-fired stoves for heating and water. The company is also retrofitting larger buildings including schools and hospitals. Although still using fossil fuels and not a sustainable long-term solution, gasfired stoves can help the capital city reduce its reliance on coal and lead to GHG reductions. Burning coal in homes is one of the leading causes of air pollution, which reaches dangerous levels in the winters when temperatures can reach –40°C and demand for energy is highest. The company reports to have already received more than 10,000 applications for the gas-fired equipment.

Co-benefits Economic To help with costly installation fees, the government has provided green loans to 300 households, and GASCOM is adding to this effort, to help more households make the transition from coal to gas. Health Gas is a cleaner-burning fuel alternative to coal that can help communities transition to renewables and improve air quality, reducing the associated health risks such as respiratory diseases.

18 100 CLIMATE ACTIONS FROM CITIES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Transitioning to clean energy for improved air quality. The Gas Service Corporation of Mongolia (GASCOM) offers green loans for gas-fired heating systems in Ulaanbaatar (photo by GASCOM).

100 Climate actions from cities in Asia and the Pacific

Articles inside

Methodology

Tackling Maldives’ Trash Island Malé, Maldives

Four Provincial Capitals, Three “Rs” of Recycling Darkhan, Altai, Baruun-Urt, and Arvaikheer, Mongolia

Turning the Tide on Plastics Tangerang, Indonesia; General Trias, Philippines; Nakhon Pathom and Rayong, Thailand; and India

A Fresh Approach to Food Waste in Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Confronting Khujand’s Landfill Challenges Khujand, Tajikistan

Eco Village in Mongolia Replaces Coal with Sunshine for Heat Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

A Helping Hand for Local Kyrgyz Efficiency Projects Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Retrofits Keep Heat In and Emissions Down Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Choosing from the Climate Resilience Toolbox Xiangtan, PRC

International Innovation Inspires Building Standards in Viet Nam Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

ADB Headquarters Goes for Gold Mandaluyong, Philippines

Traditional Medicine Meets Low-Carbon Design Xiangtan, PRC

Reducing Emissions, Improving Air Quality Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Low-Carbon Housing for 35,000 Residents of Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar Makes Concrete Plans to Address Environmental Challenges Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Xiangtan’s Public Procurement Approach Xiangtan, PRC

Launching Emission Monitoring in Tajikistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Peaking Emissions 8 Years Ahead of Schedule Wuhan, PRC

Batumi’s Efficiency Action Plan Batumi, Georgia

100 More Days of Clean Air in Chengdu Chengdu, PRC

Dhaka Prepares for Reduced Freshwater Availability Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bhutan Battles Rising Waters in the Himalayan Foothills Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Dushanbe Doubles Down on Water Security Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Solving Kiribati’s Water Puzzle South Tarawa, Kiribati

Tamil Nadu Invests in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Tamil Nadu, India

A Fresh Approach to Water for a Future with Rising Tides Suva, Fiji

Overcoming Water Scarcity in the South Pacific Honiara, Solomon Islands

Putting Livability at the Center of Adaptation and Mitigation Yanji, PRC

Climate Adaptation on the Shores of Southeast Asia’s Largest Lake Kampong Chhnang and Pursat, Cambodia

Post-Coal Economies for Heilongjiang Hegang, Jixi, Qitaihe, and Shuangyashan, PRC

“Art for Action” Inspires Younger Generation Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Testing Low-Carbon Living in Jilin Jilin, PRC

Efficient Stoves Protect Lives, Forests, and the Climate Kabul, Afghanistan

Green Passport Campaign Urges Youth to Protect the Environment Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Real-Time Urban Flood Forecasting and Warning System Shanghai, PRC

Increasing Building Efficiency through Smart Monitoring Xiangtan, PRC

Building a City’s Digital Backbone Xiangtan, PRC

Nur-Sultan’s Trees Are Coming of Age Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Energy Management System Drives Energy Efficiency Xiangtan, PRC

Planting Trees on the Roof of the World Xining, PRC

A Green Wave of Reforestation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Leveraging the Legacy of Tajikistan’s Trolleybuses Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Daily Commute Takes New Heights Makati, Quezon City, and Pasay, Philippines

Samoa Shields Harbor against Climate Change Apia, Samoa

Trolleybus Network Helps Curb Jinan’s Emissions Jinan, PRC

Prioritizing Public Transport to Improve Public Health Manila-Clark Corridor, Philippines

Pink and Yellow Lines Decongest and Decarbonize Bangkok, Thailand

Mumbai Metro Moves the Masses Mumbai, India

Saving Traffic, Time, and the Environment in Ha Noi Ha Noi, Viet Nam

Improving Multimodal Transport in Xiangtan Xiangtan, PRC

Green Light for the Red Line in Karachi Karachi, Pakistan

Three Transport Initiatives Boost Livability and Cut Emissions Xiangtan, PRC

Gender-Inclusive Bus Corridor to Relax Congestion Peshawar, Pakistan

Encouraging Public Transport through Metro Face-Lift Tbilisi, Georgia

Block Heaters Blunt Idling Emissions Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Expanding Public Transport to Cut Congestion Vientiane, Lao PDR

Taxis to Help Tackle Air Pollution in Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Ramping Up Thailand’s Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities Bangkok, Thailand

Closing Batumi’s Sustainable Urban Transport Gaps Batumi, Georgia

Green Buses Increase Efficiency and Decrease Emissions Qingdao, PRC

Connecting River Banks and Citizens to Promote Green Transport Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

The Liuzhou Model for Mobility Electrification Liuzhou, PRC

Financial Support Promotes Low-Carbon Upgrades Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The Island Nation POISED to Embrace Solar Addu City, Maldives

Hydropower for Vanuatu’s Population Espiritu Santo and Malekula, Vanuatu

Changsha Tests the Water with River Heating Technology Changsha, PRC

A Sunny Boost for Viet Nam’s Power Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Affordable Loans for Greener Houses Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Green Bonds Finance Thailand’s Largest Wind Farm Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Updating the Kyrgyz Republic’s Aging Hydropower Tash-Kumyr, Kyrgyz Republic

Utility-Scale Solar Comes to Dhaka Dhaka, Bangladesh

Heating Homes without the Smog Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Concentrated Mitigation Efforts Delingha, PRC

Making the Most of the Sun in Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Micro-grids for the Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae and Yap, Federated States of Micronesia

Water and Power from Visakhapatnam’s Reservoir Visakhapatnam, India

Hydropower Makes a Splash in Solomon Islands Honiara, Solomon Islands