Private sectors discuss supporting anti-air pollution efforts

Oyundelger 2017-02-13 07:02

Society

Members of the Ulaanbaatar Chamber of Commerce (UBCC) addressed the air pollution issue during their first meeting of 2017, with Mayor of Ulaanbaatar S.Batbold joining as a special guest.

Private sectors discuss supporting anti-air pollution efforts. Members of the Ulaanbaatar Chamber of Commerce (UBCC) addressed the air pollution issue during their first meeting of 2017, with Mayor of Ulaanbaatar S.Batbold joining as a special guest. 80 percent of the air pollution in the capital city is produced by ger districts, which use the normal stoves that don’t meet standards. Boosting economic growth is a key strategy to get rid Ulaanbaatar of air pollution because poor living standards and poverty are two of the main causes of the pollution problem. The UBCC has organized several meetings to seek solutions for improving Ulaanbaatar’s business environment, as well as procurement and investment challenges. During the meeting, UBCC President J.Oyungereal stated, “We’ll continue to introduce international practices and carry out projects and programs for fighting air pollution. When doing so, we will cooperate with the Ulaanbaatar administration, experts and the National Air Pollution Reduction Committee.” One presenter of UBCC member companies suggested developing the economies of the provinces and increasing the number of jobs available outside of the capital to keep its ger districts from expanding. Another presenter suggested that restarting construction and loan projects is the best solution for fighting air pollution. Other ideas included using LPG fueled buses for public transportation to reduce vehicle emissions, encouraging ger district residents to use thermal energy solutions to eliminate the use of raw coal, and expanding cooperation between the city’s administration and local businesses to engage in air pollution reduction efforts. Mayor S.Batbold listened to the ideas presented by UBCC members and gladly accepted the offers of entrepreneurs to work closely with the city’s administrators on reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.