Mongolia is one of the countries in the world that still retains its nomadic tradition, with a four distinct climate. Winds, dust storms and snowstorms are frequent in spring. In mid-March this year, strong winds and dust storms hit the whole country, causing serious casualties and property damage.
What exactly causes frequent sand and dust storms in Mongolia? On March 31, Enkhbat, director of the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Natural Environment and Tourism, gave an exclusive interview to Xinhua News Agency reporters to reveal the truth for us–
Enkhbat told reporters: “Mongolia is one of the most vulnerable countries on climate change on earth, where the incidence of climate-related natural disasters, especially sandstorms, is on the rise.”
“If we divide Mongolia’s desertification into two categories: man-made and natural factors, then most desertification is directly related to natural factors or climate change.”
According to Enkhbat, in the past 80 years, Mongolia’s average temperature has increased by about 2.25 degrees Celsius, almost three times the global average temperature rise, and what’s more surprising is that 76.8% of Mongolia’s total land area has been affected by varying degrees of desertification. Over the past 80 years, Mongolia’s annual precipitation has decreased by 7% to 8%, especially in warm seasons such as spring and summer.
On March 14, Mongolia’s Central Gobi Province was hit by a strong sandstorm, causing casualties and property damage. ( Photo provided by the General Office of the Government of the Central Gobi Province of Mongolia)
“The situation could continue to deteriorate unless concrete action was taken.” Enkhbat said carelessly.
According to official data, the number of hot days in Mongolia has increased by nearly 20 days every year in the past 40 years, and in the past 15 years, the country has experienced the hottest 10 years in the past 80 years. During this period, drought and heat caused the country’s 1,244 large and small rivers and lakes to dry up or cut off. Extreme drought is particularly serious in the Gobi and the eastern region.
All these data show the great impact of climate change on this hinterland country of Asia. In recent years, the incidence of natural disasters caused by climate change in Mongolia has increased significantly. Enkhbat said that one of the typical examples is the ravages of sandstorms.
On March 14, Mongolia’s Central Gobi Province was hit by a strong sandstorm, causing casualties and property damage. ( Photo provided by the General Office of the Government of the Central Gobi Province of Mongolia)
Mongolian meteorological experts said that since the beginning of spring this year, the duration and intensity of strong winds and dust storms must be vigilant.
Enkhbat stressed that the most important way to combat desertification, reduce land degradation and reduce the frequency of sandstorms is to increase vegetation coverage by planting trees and grass. At present, Mongolia’s vegetation coverage accounts for only 7.9% of the land area.
In recent years, according to the state budget, the area of trees planted each year has ranged between 3,000 and 5,000 hectares, he said. Mongolia aims to increase vegetation coverage to 8.6% over the next four years.” Enkhbat said.
(Photo by the General Office of the Government of the Central Gobi Province of Mongolia)
It is understood that since 2005, the Mongolian government has implemented a national plan called the “Green Wall” to increase vegetation coverage and combat desertification in the southern arid and Gobi Desert areas.
Enkhbat told reporters that Mongolia is interested in working with the international community, especially neighboring countries, to learn from the experience of combating desertification and expand the plan to combat desertification.
“In addition, China has been cooperating with relevant Chinese organizations on dust storms and desertification control issues. For example, since 2020, the relevant ministries of the two countries have been holding policy consultation meetings to determine some specific cooperation directions.”
