Ulaanbaatar
Business entities discuss air pollution of Ulaanbaatar city
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On February 8, the first meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Ulaanbaatar city took place. The Chamber of Commerce of Ulaanbaatar city has been established recently with a view to improve public and private partnership to promote social development and maintain common interests of business entities.
The participants of the meeting discussed issues on reducing air pollution in the capital. At the meeting, S.Batbold, Mayor of Ulaanbaatar and Governor of the Capital city gave information on recent measures and policy taken regarding air pollution.
He said “Around 80 percent of air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city comes from Ger district area, namely, the coal-burning stoves of families living in the area. The air pollution is hugely related to living standards and poverty of the population. Economic growth is a solution to to the complete elimination of the risk of air pollution".
He further continued "As a Mayor of Ulaanbaatar city, I have issued three ordinances, such as identifying the settlement areas and zones of air quality, and limiting movement from rural areas to the capital. Moreover, raw coal would not be distributed to families who receive benefits from the government, instead only processed fuel will be provided for them. In this regard, the participation of business entities is important to putting the measures into good use”.
Mayor S.Batbold also noted that the city is working to create more jobs in soums of Tuv aimag in close proximity to the capital by establishing manufactures and enterprises with an eventual aim to reduce air pollution. Members of the Chamber of Commerce of Ulaanbaatar city agreed on the necessity to utilize buses that run on liquefied petroleum gas and promoting the use of energy-efficient heating to families in the Ger districts in Ulaanbaatar city.
Moreover, they highlighted the importance of job creation outside of the capital city in order to minimize the growth of Ger districts.
