Addressing Air Pollution And Beyond In Ulaanbaatar: The Role Of Sustainable Mobility
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2019-30
Abstract
All over the world the transport sector contributes to local air pollution as well as CO2 -emissions and transportation related problems such as congestion especially in urban agglomerations. In Ulaanbaatar traffic is currently not the most important source of air pollution but it will gain importance due to a growing demand for transport and related effects. A transformation towards sustainable mobility is therefore needed which is pursued by reduction of the number of trips, influencing the modal split towards more sustainable modes and more efficient handling of mobility.
This paper discusses different characteristics of air pollution, traffic congestion and CO2 - emissions and respective suitability of policy instruments. It is argued that conducting mobility more efficient will be not enough to address all relevant effects of growing demand. In doing so special attention is given to the interaction of built environment, land use and transport as well as related planning approaches which is particularly important in a situation when urban growth has to be managed.
A transfer towards sustainable mobility needs a two-step approach: a more short-term improvement related to a more environmentally friendly transport system and a longterm approach to organise urban mobility in a sustainable way by adopting an integrated urban and transport planning and influencing transport behaviour.
About the Author
Marion AschmannGermany
Stuttgart
References
1. Amarsaikhan D., Battsengel V., Nergui B., Ganzorig M. and Bolor, G. (2014). A Study on Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2, pp. 123-128. doi: 10.4236/gep.2014.22017
2. Asian Development Bank ADB (2017). Proposed Policy-Based Loan Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Air Quality Improvement Program. Concept Paper. [online] Available at: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/51199/51199-001-cp-en.pdf [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
3. Asian Development Bank ADB (2018). Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Urban Transport Capacity Development. Completion Report. [online] Available at: https://www.adb.org/projects/ documents/mon-45140-001-tcr [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
4. Baklanov A., Molina L.T. and Gauss M. (2016). Megacities, air quality and climate. Atmospheric Environment, 126, pp. 235-249. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.11.059
5. Bertolini L., Curtis C. and Renne J.L. (2016). Introduction, In: Curtis C.. Renne J.L. and Bertolini L. (eds.). pp. 3-12.
6. Brenck A., Mitusch K. and Winter M. (2016). External Costs of Transport. In: Schwedes et al. (eds.). Handbook Transport Policy. 2nd ed. Wiesbaden, Springer, pp. 401-429 (in German).
7. Cervero R. (2003). Growing smart by linking transportation and land use: Perspectives from California. Builte environment, 29(1), pp. 66-78.
8. Curtis C., Renne J.L. and Bertolini L. ( 2016). Transit oriented development: making it happen. New York, Routledge.
9. Ewing R. and Cervero R. (2010). Travel and the Built Environment. A Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Planning Association, 76(3), pp. 265-294. doi: 10.1080/01944361003766766
10. Falcocchio J.C. and Levinson H.S. (2015). Road Traffic Congestion: A Concise Guide, Springer Tracts on Transportation and Traffic 7. Cham, Springer Nature Switzerland. German Environmental Agency (eds. 2018). Emissions of the Transport Sector (in German), [online] Available at: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/verkehr/emissionen-desverkehrs#textpart-1 [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
11. Guttikunda S.K., Lodoysamba S., Bulgansaikhan B. and Dashdondog B. (2013). Particulate pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health, 6(3), pp. 589-601. doi: 10.1007/s11869-013-0198-7
12. High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (2016). Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development. Analysis and Policy Recommendations from the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, [online] Available at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabletransport/highleveladvisorygroup [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
13. ITF (2017a). ITF Transport Outlook 2017. Paris, OECD Publishing. ITF (2017b). Strategies for Mitigating Air Pollution in Mexico City, [online] Available at: https://www.itf-oecd.org/strategies-mitigating-air-pollution-mexico-city [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
14. Molina L.T., de Foy B., Vázquez Martínez O. and Páramo Figueroa V.H. (2009). Air Quality, Weather and Climate in Mexico City. World Metereological Organisation Bulletin, 58 (1), [online] Available at: https://public.wmo.int/en/bulletin/air-quality-weather-and-climatemexico-city [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
15. Newman P. (2016). Planning for Transit Oriented Development: Strategic Principles. In: Curtis C., Renne J.L. and Bertolini L. (eds.). pp.12-22.
16. Ricardo-AEA (2014). Update of the Handbook on External Costs of Transport. Final Report. Report for the European Commission DG Move, [online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/handbook_on_external_costs_of_transport_2014_0.pdf [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
17. Seaniger C.-A. (2017). 8-Step Solution to Solving Ulaanbaatar’s Traffic Nightmare. The UB Post 25. Jan. 2017, [online] Available at: https://www.pressreader.com/mongolia/the-ubpost/20170125/281509340899617 [Accessed 14 June 2019].
18. Victoria Transport Policy Institute VTPI (2017). Rebound Effects. Implications for Transport Planning. TDM Encyclopedia, [online] Available at: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm64.htm [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
19. World Health Organisation WHO (2018). Air Pollution in Mongolia: Policy Brief, [online] Available at: http://www.wpro.who.int/mongolia/publications/20180228_policy_brief_ on_air_pollution.pdf [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
20. Zhamsueva G.S., Zayakhanov A.S., Starikov A.V., Balzhanov T.S., Tsydypov V.V., Dementyeva A.L., Khodzher T.V., Golobokova L.P., Khuriganova O.I., Azzaya D. and Oyunchimeg D. (2018). Investigation of chemical Composition of Atmospheric Aerosol in Ulaanbaatar During 2005-2014. Geography and Natural Resources, 39(3), pp. 270-276. doi: 10.1134/S1875372818030113
Review
For citations:
Aschmann M. Addressing Air Pollution And Beyond In Ulaanbaatar: The Role Of Sustainable Mobility. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2019;12(3):213-223. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2019-30