Mongolia And The Climate Emergency
We focus exclusively on Mongolia and have witnessed firsthand the impact of the climate crisis on this vast nation we call home. Since 1940, Mongolia’s average annual temperature has risen by 1.8°C to 2.2°C, depending on various sources, a trend that is projected to persist in the coming decades. This rapid warming is driving severe water scarcity, desertification, and a decline in biodiversity, leading to the degradation of vital pastures. These changes have intensified the frequency and severity of catastrophic events, including floods, droughts, dzuds (a harsh cyclical weather phenomenon unique to Mongolia), and sandstorms, which threaten the lives, health, and livelihoods of the Mongolian people.
The most recent dzud occurred during the winter of 2023/24, marking one of the harshest winters Mongolia has faced in half a century. The extreme conditions led to the loss of up to 4.7 million livestock, severely threatening the livelihoods and food security of thousands of people. According to the World Health Organization, snowfall reached its highest levels in 49 years, blanketing 90% of the country at its peak in January.
The following video, captured in March 2021 in Dundgobi Aimag—one of Mongolia’s 21 provinces—could easily represent any of the Gobi provinces during spring. Dundgobi, meaning “Middle Gobi,” is home to the community of Erdenedalai, where our guests are warmly hosted by herding families like the Nergui family, with whom we have established long-term partnerships. While sandstorms have traditionally been a natural occurrence in Mongolia during spring, this recent storm highlights a troubling trend that signals deeper environmental changes.
For tens of thousands of Mongolian households—particularly herders, including those we collaborate with in long-term community partnerships—climate change is not a distant concern but an immediate reality. The impacts of dzud, drought, desertification, and forest and steppe fires have disrupted their traditional livelihoods, driving many to migrate from the countryside to Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar (UB).
But then Ulaanbaatar is not immune to the impact of the climate emergency either. Recent flooding in the city, exacerbated by unusually heavy rainfall, has overwhelmed infrastructure, leading to widespread disruption and damage. These floods are a stark reminder that even urban areas are increasingly vulnerable to the consequences of a changing climate.
Desertification Threatens Mongolia
Mongolia spans 1,564,116 square kilometers, straddling the crucial transition zone between Central Asia’s deserts and the boreal taiga of Siberia. The country encompasses six distinct bio-geoclimatic zones: desert, desert steppe, steppe, forest-steppe, boreal forest, and mountain regions. According to the United Nations, approximately 90% of Mongolia’s grasslands are at risk of desertification, with 76% of its pastureland already degraded. If desertification continues at its current pace, it is estimated that by 2080, the desert will engulf nearly all of Mongolia, sparing only the fertile regions of Khentii and Khovsgol aimags, known for their forests, lakes, and rivers. The Mongolian government has identified forest fires, unsustainable forestry, and mining activities as key drivers of desertification. Additionally, a recent study highlights overgrazing, particularly due to the shift from sheep to goat herding to meet the global demand for cashmere wool, as a significant contributor. With over 70 million livestock in Mongolia, the 29.3 million goats are especially harmful, as they graze more destructively by consuming roots and flowers. Meanwhile, the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia continues its relentless expansion.
Mongolia’s Role in Global Climate Action: Contributions at COP26, COP27, and COP28
Mongolia has been an active participant in the UN Climate Change Conferences, including COP26, COP27, and COP28, showcasing its strong commitment to addressing both national and global climate challenges. At COP26 in Glasgow, Mongolia pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7% by 2030—a significant commitment given the country’s reliance on coal. President Khurelsukh represented Mongolia at COP26, delivering a powerful statement at the General Debate, where he reiterated Mongolia’s full support for international efforts to reduce and absorb greenhouse gas emissions. He reaffirmed Mongolia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and emphasized the country’s determination to mobilize every possible resource to meet its climate goals. President Khurelsukh also highlighted Mongolia’s focus on increasing carbon absorption, combating poverty and desertification through economic initiatives, protecting the health of children—who are among the most vulnerable to climate change—and improving overall quality of life, particularly through pollution reduction.
During the conference, Mongolia presented the short documentary Changing Skies to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which explores the challenges facing Mongolians, especially through the eyes of children. A poignant quote from Anu-Ujin, a UNICEF YOUCCAN activist, captures the spirit of the documentary:
“I’m the only one who doesn’t believe in such fears. I think all the children in the world have the same fears. Even if we children are afraid, we have to take action. Children have the power, we can do it. I believe that will change.”
(YOUCCAN, established by the Mongolian Scouts Association, People In Need NGO, and the Swiss Development Agency, is the only platform in Mongolia that gives young people a voice in the fight against climate change and air pollution.)
During COP27 in Egypt, Mongolia emphasized the critical need for climate finance and adaptation support, particularly for its nomadic herding communities that are increasingly vulnerable to desertification and extreme weather.
As COP28 approached, Mongolia continued to champion stronger international cooperation, advocating for a just energy transition, the adoption of renewable energy, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into climate strategies. This approach includes a focus on preserving Mongolia’s unique natural heritage, such as its vast grasslands, which are essential for the survival of nomadic cultures and vital ecosystems. In collaboration with local communities and organizations like The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Mongolian government is working to protect these lands from the accelerating impacts of climate change, including desertification and overgrazing. In April 2024, the Government of Mongolia and TNC announced the “Eternal Mongolia” initiative, a landmark partnership that will unlock $198 million in new investment over 15 years to support Mongolia’s ambitious conservation goals and promote sustainable community development in and around protected areas.
Tourism in Mongolia and the Climate Crisis
As a business operating in the tourism sector, we recognise that tourism contributes to the climate crisis, and we are committed to taking responsibility for mitigating its impact, including the challenges created by tourism itself.
We are a registered Mongolian company and a social travel enterprise dedicated to practicing responsible tourism at the local level. Our focus is on promoting fair and equitable tourism that fosters positive social change in Mongolia. We believe that travel should be a mutually enriching experience for both visitors and the host country, benefiting its natural environment, people, culture, and traditions. We are proud to provide evidence of our work in these areas.
While we strongly believe in the benefits of travel, we also acknowledge that the current state of tourism is not sustainable for our planet. However, this challenge cannot be tackled in isolation. Addressing climate change requires collective action. This is not about cancelling international travel but about traveling more consciously and sustainably. As an industry, we must unite and take decisive steps to make tourism more sustainable.
To this end, we have joined Tourism Declares, an initiative that supports tourism businesses, organisations, and individuals in declaring a climate emergency and taking meaningful action to reduce carbon emissions. Our commitment to this cause has also led us to become a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration, further solidifying our dedication to creating a more sustainable future for tourism.


What Is The Tourism Declares Movement?
Tourism Declares is an initiative that supports tourism businesses, organisations and individuals in declaring a climate emergency and taking purposeful action to reduce their carbon emissions. As Tourism Declares outlines,
“We believe we have a responsibility, to tell the truth, act now and work together to help turn it around.”
As a signatory we committed to the following five actions:
1 & 2. Develop a ‘Climate Emergency Plan’ which sets out our intentions to reduce carbon emissions over the next decade. Also, share the plan and update on progress each year.
3. Accept current IPCC advice stating the need to cut global carbon emissions to 55% below 2017 levels by 2030 in order to keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming. The cut in our own emissions by 55% is a target. To do this, firstly we need to accurately measure the full carbon footprint of our products and services and you can read more about how we are doing this in our Climate Action Plan.
4. Encourage our partners to make the same declaration; sharing best practice amongst peers; and actively participate in the Tourism Declares community.
5. Advocate for change. We recognise the need for system change across the industry, and call for urgent regulatory action to accelerate the transition towards zero-carbon air travel.
In November 2021, world leaders gathered in the Scottish city of Glasgow at COP26 to carry out negotiations on how to tackle climate change. COP26 was attended by countries that have signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a treaty that was agreed to in 1994. The main goal of COP26 was to lock in the emissions-cutting plans of the nations involved, to keep the target of limiting Earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as well as adapting to protect natural habitats and communities. At COP26, delegates were presented with the Glasgow Declaration – an agreement between many in the tourist industry to lead, align and galvanize on climate action. We are proud to be a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action In Tourism (to give it its full title) – led by the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Association) in collaboration with the Travel Foundation and Tourism Declares A Tourism Emergency (of which we are a member) within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.
‘The Glasgow Declaration isn’t just a pledge – it is a commitment to take action to halve tourism’s emissions by 2030, and to report on progress made each year.’ Jeremy Smith, Co-founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency
The Glasgow Declaration aims to unite everyone in the tourism sector around a common set of pathways for climate action, by:
- Defining a clear and consistent sector-wide message and approach to climate action in the coming decade, aligned with the wider scientific framework and urgency to act now;
- Outlining the pathways and specific actions that will accelerate tourism’s ability to transform tourism and achieve Net Zero as soon as possible;
- Encouraging signatories across all sectors of tourism to demonstrate their public support for scaling up the sector’s response to the climate emergency.
What Is The Glasgow Declaration
- Supporting the global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050;
- Delivering climate action plans within 12 months of becoming a signatory (or updating existing plans), and beginning implementing them;
- Aligning our plans with the five pathways of the Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, Finance) to accelerate and coordinate climate action in tourism. See below;
- Reporting publicly on an annual basis on progress against interim and long-term targets, as well as on actions being taken. See our Climate Action Plan for more;
- Working in a collaborative spirit, sharing good practices and solutions, and disseminating information to encourage additional organisations to become signatories and supporting one another to reach targets as quickly as possible.
The Five Pathways Defined In The Glasgow Declaration
Measure means we will measure and disclose all travel and tourism-related emissions with the purpose to gain insight into what we actually emit. This includes trackable indicators, such as environmentally preferable purchasing, energy and water conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as targeting broader sustainable practices, such as equal opportunity and community support.
Many travel companies now offer consumers the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets. These are part of the solution at the beginning of the process, although they only kick the can down the road. Operators should aim to get as close to full decarbonization as possible. The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) report, High Moments, Low Impact: Rethinking Adventure Travel’s Sustainability Efforts, places the onus for change on destinations (and companies) rather than visitor as in-destination businesses have more power to effect change than a holiday-maker.
The ATTA report says: “Responsible tourism pledges are beneficial for informing travelers about expectations and appropriate behaviors. […] However, the ultimate success of responsible tourism pledges falls on destinations, not travelers.”
Regenerate includes focusing on the restoration and protection of ecosystems, supporting nature’s ability to draw down carbon. One example is investing in tree planting. Regenerate also includes safeguarding biodiversity, food security, and water supply. Regeneration can also help host communities develop resilience, and better adapt and respond to disasters.
The climate crisis is too big for any one person or organization to fix alone. That means collaboration is key at all levels. An example of this is working with local communities in Mongolia to help protect their ecosystems, as is educating our guests who visit. A leave-no-trace policy can be an effective way to bring collaboration together.
Another example of how we will collaborate is through the Tourism Declares online community and volunteer network, and the planned formation of regional hubs. Via the Tourism Declares online community, companies are able to scale the necessary knowledge, tools, and inspiration needed for sector-wide change
The highlighted ATTA report says: ”At the individual level, tourists should be encouraged to take steps like reducing their waste, and given options or incentives to book eco-friendly hotels or to travel with socially responsible operators.
“Firms can ensure their supply chains support their local economies and invest in energy efficiency and waste management systems.
“Governments can affect systemic change by regulating environmental standards and incentivizing the responsible practices in the private sector through tax breaks or other financial means.”
It always comes down to money. Essentially, we need to invest in our climate action plan and should ensure that we have the financial resources to do so. (A bit of a tough one considering that Mongolia was shut to tourism from March 2020 until February 2022 due to the impact of the pandemic. But we will do our best!)
