Mongolia Lecture Series: Christa Hasenkopf “Clearing the air: The story of the pollution crisis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia”

Mongolia Lecture Series

Program on Inner Asia
Institute of Asian Research
University of British Columbia

Friday, February 17, 15:30-17h

Room 129
CK Choi Bldg for the Institute of Asian Research

1855 West Mall
UBC Campus

Dr. Christa Hasenkopf
University of Colorado

“Clearing the air: The story of the pollution crisis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia”

For the first time in human history, we now live in a world where over half of the population resides in urban areas. The urbanization rate is highest in developing nations, in which over three-quarters of humanity lives. Over the last 30 years, Asia has seen its population double and, accordingly, its cheap energy needs skyrocket and air quality plummet. Ulaanbaatar, the engine of Mongolia’s rapidly developing economy, is a prime example of an Asian city that is experiencing rapid population and economic growth but is suffering negative environmental consequences. Due to this growth as well as its geography and climate, Ulaanbaatar has some of the world’s most polluted air in terms of particulate matter (PM) levels. This talk will describe the current air pollution crisis and its impacts in Ulaanbaatar, how it got that way, and current and future mitigation methods.

Christa Hasenkopf received her PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Colorado. She is on a two-year postdoctoral study of particulate matter emissions in Ulaanbaatar, as well as performing atmospheric science outreach activities at universities and local secondary schools. Her research is done in collaboration with the National University of Mongolia and the University of Colorado and is funded by a National Science Foundation International Research Fellowship and a U.S. Fulbright grant.

Powerpoint Presentation

About Julian Dierkes

Julian Dierkes is a sociologist by training (PhD Princeton Univ) and a Mongolist by choice and passion since around 2005. He teaches in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He toots @jdierkes@sciences.social and tweets @jdierkes
This entry was posted in Air Pollution, Environment, Events, Research on Mongolia, UBC Mongolia Lecture Series, Ulaanbaatar and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Mongolia Lecture Series: Christa Hasenkopf “Clearing the air: The story of the pollution crisis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia”

  1. leo liu says:

    I am the IR of Prophecy Coal Corp, the company plans to build the 600MW new coal fired power plant in Mongolia in 2013. I am very interested in attending this lecture in UBC.

    Leo Liu, CFA
    Prophecy Coal Corp

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