Climate Change Impacts on Health and Livelihoods: Mongolia Assessment

Mongolia is experiencing rapid climate change with rising temperatures surpassing the global average, leading to more severe weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and the Mongolian Dzud—extreme winters following dry summers. These changes threaten traditional pastoralist-herder lifestyles, pushing rural populations towards urban areas. The increasing frequency of natural disasters like Dzuds, intense rainfall, and dust storms is causing significant damage to livelihoods, particularly in the agricultural and livestock sectors, leading to decreased incomes and food supply instability. Climate change also poses direct health risks, including respiratory illnesses from indoor coal burning during cold spells, and indirect risks through increased zoonotic diseases due to close proximity to livestock. Additionally, the shift towards processed foods in urban areas is contributing to a rise in noncommunicable diseases. The impacts of climate change on mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and water quality remain underexplored, highlighting the need for comprehensive adaptation strategies to mitigate these multifaceted challenges.