- Environmental degradation: Whilst bringing much economic prosperity, the expansion of mining and deforestation has brought with it severe biodiversity loss, air pollution, water contamination and desertification. Virgin land is increasingly being turned into overgrazed agricultural pastures, whilst coal power plants have been the preferred source of energy implemented to keep up with industrial growth and household consumption. Climate change and urbanization puts additional pressure on resources and service provision.
- Unemployment/ crime: Unemployment is closely associated with poverty. Youth unemployment is particularly overwhelming as three-quarters of unemployed Mongolians are aged younger than 35. Reasons for the lack of job opportunities are due to low vocational training opportunities, poor salary incentive, economic restructuring and oversupply of labour. As a result, many resort to crime or the unregulated informal economy.
- Natural Disaster: ‘Dzud’ is the term used to describe the harsh winter conditions which cause widespread death of livestock and consequent loss of livelihood to subsistence farmers. As it occurs seasonally, it is the most devastating natural event on the development of Mongolia, yet forest fires, dust storms, flash floods and earthquakes are other significant afflictions which reveal the country’s need for greater capacity development.
Sources:
CIA WorldFact Book - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
UNDP - http://www.mn.undp.org/content/mongolia/en/home/countryinfo/
Unicef - http://www.unicef.org/mongolia/overview.html
UN Earth Summit - http://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit/mong-cp.htm#chap3