AT WHAT STAGE IS THE “BILLION TREE” NATIONAL MOVEMENT?Mongolia has announced a national campaign to plant “Billion Trees” as part of a global green revolution to combat global warming and reduce the impact of climate change. President U.Khurelsukh announced at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in September last year to the heads of state and government of 83 countries that “Mongolia launched a movement to plant billion trees by 2030 to address global climate change”. This statement by the President was received by Mongolians in two ways. Some people supported it by saying “It’s a timely decision because about 80% of our land is affected by desertification.” Some criticized: “it’s impossible to achieve it, there is no research, no analysis”.
Forum talks of water issues, and hears how to bring it to the GobiThe news of how one herder was shot dead by another in Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugovi aimag during a dispute on whose livestock had claim to a water source shocked Mongolians into the awareness that scarcity of water could make a killer of a peaceful man. This was in 2019, and in April the next year, Tsetsii Movement,
This concern over scarcity of water marked the first Gobi Water – Green Development Research and Innovation Forum held in Dalanzadgad, Umnugovi aimag on September 10. As researchers and members of the aimag parliament talked at the Forum about how depletion of water resources in the Gobi has led to drying up of wells for livestock and a drop in the underground water level for human use, I found in my later interaction with ordinary people that they were glad to get a chance to articulate their concerns and suggest solutions. It is now for those who take decisions and make policy to take note of these.
Water Authority must get the teeth to provide good water governanceThe refrain in the Gobi now is “Bring the water”. So much has been said for so long about the mega project to pipe water to them from distant rivers that the people wonder how long they have to wait for the dream to come true. With more and more mining, but not solely because of this, underground water reserves are being depleted fast, a matter of national concern but felt more acutely by the people living in the Gobi. They appreciate the importance of mining, but not if -- as experts have been warning -- the Gobi would start facing acute water shortage as early as 2025, and the situation could become catastrophic in just a few years. All Mongolians have a stake to avert such an eventuality and the demand has been growing that there should be a new national water policy that treats all water related issues on a scientific basis. In other words, there should be proper “water governance”. The term is new but the idea behind it is old.
The Blue Horse to bring water to mines and men The Water Authority, set up as an implementing agency in pursuance of a government decision in April 2020, is presently making an exhaustive review of the various aspects of the Khukh Mori (Blue Horse) project intended primarily to provide water to deficit regions by, one, finding new surface water sources and, two, redirecting water flows. In 2019, the then Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism (MNET), N. Tserenbat, brought together all projects on surface water utilization under one umbrella and named it The Blue Horse Project. Some of the component projects had been under discussion for many years and several had made some progress with their feasibility studies. The Minister said the component related to the Orkhon and Ongi Rivers was to be given priority, as its impact would be felt in four aimags in the Gobi region.
Rio Tinto plans big to go greenIn keeping with its position as the world’s second biggest mining company, Rio Tinto has been taking several bold steps to halt contributing to climate change. With the divestment of its last coal project in 2018, it became the first major company to have no fossil fuel asset. This was also when Rio released its first climate change report titled ‘Our approach to the climate change 2018’. This has now been followed by “Our approach to climate change 2019”, which was released in February this year. In this Rio sets out its goal of achieving zero emission from its operations anywhere by 2050. That would cover both direct and indirect emission – in scientific parlance, Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission. CEO Jean Sebastien Jacques has said that the company will spend up to $1 billion in the coming five years on strategizing and getting ready to take up projects to reach the lofty goal.
“We have enough water we have no real water policy”Dr J. Dalai, Director of the National Water Centre, an NGO, and General Director of the Prestige Group, tells N. Ariuntuya of MMJ that water scarcity fears are exaggerated and a well-designed and properly implemented national water consumption policy is essential for healthy economic development.
Concern over how Mongolian plans pose threat to Baikal Lake Baikal is facing another environmental threat, this time from across the border with plans in Mongolia for a series of new hydroelectric power plants. Campaigners including Greenpeace have made a plea to the World Bank to block funding for the major projects, which will see the plants built on tributary rivers leading to Baikal. Among the proposals is one to dam a river and divert water to the Gobi desert.
“It will not be easy to meet mining’s growing demand for water” One of the highlights of the “Oil and Oil Shale Mongolia” conference in Ulaanbaatar in September was a speech by B.Enkhbaatar, head of the project to support investment in mining infrastructure development, at a session devoted to infrastructure and the work force.
OT plants saxaul trees to restore Gobi landscapeOyu Tolgoi is shaping a new approach to rehabilitation, firmly focused on maintaining the ancient natural environment. The Mongolian Gobi has a dry and extreme climate and native plants such as the saxaul tree have adapted to the harsh conditions over generations.
The over whelming burden of compensationA prospecting company denied a mining licence under the ‘long-titled’ law is preparing to claim nearly $500 million from the State in court. It obtained the prospecting licence before the law was passed in 2009 and thereafter spent more than $10 million on the prospecting work.
TNC: Mongolia needs more data on its groundwater resourcesBruce McKenney, Strategy Director for the Nature Conservancy’s Development by Design program, tells how Mongolia can develop the green economy and minimize the mining sector’s impact on the environment.
Orkhon River diversion project “spells disaster”Tsetseghkorol, a herder, stares out nostalgically at the Orkhon River, the longest in Mongolia. “In 1992, the river used to be wide, deep and clean,” she says. “Now it is very polluted and small.”
Mongolia plays host the United Nations’ World Environment DayOn June 5th, Mongolia played host to the United Nations’ World Environment Day. President Elbegdorj spoke at the event and said that Mongolia hopes to become a leader in renewable energy.
“Digging up every deposit is not environment friendly mining” The Reform Government is committed to following a policy of “green development”. Both the civil society and mining professionals are relying on S.Oyun, head of Civil Will Green Party and Minister of Environment and Green Development, to do a lot in this regard.
The amended Law on Environmental Impact AssessmentThe Parliament of Mongolia passed on May 17 an amended Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that had been submitted to it on December 30, 2011. As every mining activity has some impact on the environment, the new amendments, as well as the untouched provisions of the law, are to be carefully considered by the mining industry.
