Promotion of the Co-benefits Approach Coal that is used for heating in Mongolia results in severe air pollution. This is especially the case in Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital city, where the rate of air pollution has deteriorated sharply since around 2010. The average concentration of PM2.5 in 2016 was 5 times more than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual mean concentration guideline, reaching 80 times the guideline in December of the same year. The number of deaths caused by air pollution in Mongolia that year was approximately 3,700. To overcome this situation, OECC has engaged in co-benefit-type environmental cooperation since 2013 to simultaneously reduce air pollutants (SOx, NOx, Dust) and GHGs (CO2 and its equivalents). With a focus on district heating systems, we are working with the governments and companies of Japan and Mongolia to develop projects that convert coal-fired boilers to gas boilers resulting in heat sources that do not emit air pollutants.   Demonstration of Co-benefits Effect in Mongolia Mongolia has a high dependence on coal as a heating fuel. Since 2010, air pollution has been a serious problem due to an increase in coal burning in rapidly populated urban areas. Starting in 2013,　OECC has been addressing this problem by increasing the efficiency of coal-fired hot water supply boilers (HOB) which is one of the causes of air pollution. In 2016, we achieved a 28% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 76% reduction in NOx pollution, a 28% reduction in SOx pollution, and a 59% reduction in soot and […]

International Cooperation on Air Pollution and DSS Control in Asia Against the background of economic development in Asia, air pollution such as PM2.5, photochemical oxidant and other suspended particulate matter continue to affect the health of many people, hence the importance of promoting international cooperation on transboundary pollution. The cooperation on air pollution, Dust and Sand Storms (DSS) between Japan, China and Korea has been underway for many years under the Tripartite Environment Ministers’ Meeting (TEMM), with Mongolia having recently joined. OECC has been supporting these cooperation activities since 2009 on consignment from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.   Support for Joint Research on DSS Monitoring, Forecasting, Prevention and Control Measures between Japan, China, Korea and Mongolia OECC has been supporting the activities of DSS researchers and experts in the Northeast Asian region as the designated secretariat of the TEMM DSS Joint Research which consists of two DSS working groups（WG）: WGI for DSS monitoring network and early warning systems and WGII for DSS prevention and control measures. OECC facilitates annual working group meetings and supports the implementation of the WG five-year action plan. In recent years, in view of the growing interest in the relationship between DSS and climate change, and the fact that dust storms are an issue in some regions outside Northeast Asia, OECC has expanded its work, including further promoting research exchange activities and holding seminars.   Prospects for International Cooperation in Combating Air Pollution and DSS Thanks in part to various international cooperation and self-help […]