The 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 16) is taking place in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, on December 2-13, 2024.

As designated Chair of the next Conference (COP17 in Mongolia), Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene participated as a guest of honor in the Opening Ceremony of the UNCCD COP 16 and made opening remarks.

The COP 16, themed "Our Land, Our Future," will address various issues, including the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the goal of combating desertification and land degradation, restoring degraded land and soils by 2030, responding to drought and desertification, sustainable food production, women's land rights, youth participation, and job creation.

Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene emphasized the critical need to resolve the challenges posed by climate change, desertification, and land degradation. In this crucial time, Premier Oyun-Erdene urged the Convention’s Parties to strengthen political leadership, unity, and mutual understanding and to make bold decisions for our shared future. The Premier then presented the policies and actions that the Government of Mongolia is implementing to mitigate desertification and land degradation.

The Head of the Mongolian Government stated, “Climate change and desertification affects every country and the daily lives of its citizens. According to a UN study, the frequency of natural disasters occurring in Mongolia has doubled in the past 20 years. For example, last year, snowfall in Mongolia reached a record high in the past five decades, causing a severe dzud that killed off millions of livestock, while the previous summer saw floods not seen in over 50 years. Each day, we are witnessing and experiencing such examples in every country. Our land is our future. Therefore, this Conference is being organized under the theme "Our Land-Our Future." In order to protect the land, which is the future of humanity, we must stand together for each other, as the situation demands. Challenges of climate change, desertification, and the pandemic have reminded us to be "One For All, All For One." Therefore, we call for the upcoming conference to be held under the theme "One For All, All For One."

Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene noted that Mongolia is proposing the establishment of the “International Association on Sustainable Pasturelands For the Future” during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which will be held in Mongolia. The Premier expressed gratitude for approving the Resolution to designate 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists during the United Nations General Assembly in 2022.

The Premier underlined that the Government of Mongolia is partnering with countries and international organizations in taking measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and introduce renewable energy in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Prime Minister noted that Mongolia planted 84 million trees and stockpiled 64 million saplings as part of the “Billion Trees” National Movement initiated by the President of Mongolia, which is considered as a good practice internationally.

Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene stressed that implementing major renewable energy projects is crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Furthermore, the Head of Government noted that Mongolia is also focusing on clean energy transition, investing in renewable energy production, and implementing major reforms in the tax system, and invited governments, investors, and the private sector to collaborate in these projects.

As the designated host country of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Mongolia reaffirmed its commitment to addressing drought, desertification, land degradation, and environmental protection and to actively cooperate with other participating countries. The Prime Minister of Mongolia conveyed his best wishes for the success of the Conference and extended a formal invitation to participants and delegates of the Conference to attend COP17, to be hosted in Mongolia in 2026.

The Mongolian Delegation, headed by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Odontuya Saldan, will continue to participate in the main events of the Conference.

The COP16 concurs with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and is also the biggest international event organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Notably, this Conference marks the first occasion of the event being held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The construction of a new bus depot has been completed in Ulaanbaatar. The bus depot, located in Khan-Uul district, has the capacity to house 110 buses, alongside an open parking lot for 150 buses.

Moreover, the depot will have a wash station, maintenance, servicing facility, an open service facility, storage for replacement parts and oils, a boiler house, and a bus monitoring center. A public service center will also operate at the depot.

Ulz Buyant Properties LLC constructed the depot to the order of the Investment Department of the Capital.

Once considered mere entertainment or a way to pass the time, electronic games have now evolved into a multi-billion-dollar professional sport that attracts global attention. Esports is still a relatively new industry in Mongolia. Although the term "esports" has been used in the country since the early 2000s, its rapid development has truly taken off in the last 4-5 years. Today, our athletes represent Mongolia on the international stage, consistently improving their performance and achieving greater success. Leading this charge are the athletes of "The MongolZ," who have written their names into history as some of the best in the world.

Training with the best led to the best

For a top-tier team like The MongolZ, the influence of sponsorship has been pivotal in achieving international success. The contribution of 1XBet has been particularly significant in helping the team secure notable results on the global stage. From the very beginning of cooperation, The MongolZ participated in major tournaments, but because of the lack of playing experience against top teams, the organization took not the top places. Seeing that the CS squad needed support, 1XBet initiated a bootcamp in Europe for The MongolZ. The team received support when they needed it most.

After long training sessions in Europe with top teams, the players definitely improved their skills, which showed up immediately in the results. After good results in a series of tournaments, including wins in international competitions, 1XBET offered to help organize regular bootcamps in Europe so that the MongolZ team could have maximum practice time against the best CS2 organizations in the World. As a result of these efforts, The MongolZ are now recognized among the best in the world. Ranking ninth globally by HLTV and fifth by Valve's Global Rankings is a remarkable achievement.

As e-sports grow and expand at an unprecedented pace, more money, opportunities, and competition are flowing into the industry. Now that the world is recognizing it as an official sport, it is time for our country to give it the same high priority. It is important to support and prepare the next generation of athletes who love the sport, are skilled, and are committed to it. In this context, 1XBet is not only a sponsor but also a strong foundation for teams and athletes, paving the way for them to practice hard, improve their skills, and ultimately succeed on the international stage, creating e-sports history.

The growing number of esports enthusiasts in Mongolia is evident from the fan meeting of the Mongolz team, which was held last Friday, November 22nd. Over 500 fans and supporters attended the event, where they had the opportunity to take photos with the athletes and receive autographs. During the meeting, official team merchandise was sold, a question-and-answer contest was held, and gifts were given out to the fans who attended. It was an unforgettable day, as e-sports enthusiasts of all ages gathered to show their support and offer words of encouragement to the athletes. The event was also organized by the official sponsor, 1XBet. Thanks to the strong support of 1XBet and the hard work of the Mongolz team, Mongolia has gained international recognition, and the name "Mongol" is now known worldwide. This partnership will continue to contribute to the growth of Mongolian e-sports and open doors to success for many teams and athletes in the future.

The acclaimed play “Mongol Khan,” which made its Asia premiere in Marina Bay Sands Theatre in Singapore, is coming to stages in Japan in 2025.

The production team of “Mongol Khan” has signed a partnership agreement with one of Japan’s leading cultural companies, Tremendous Entertainment Japan. Performances are scheduled to play in Tokyo on October 10-20, 2025, between the Aki Basho and Kyushu Basho sumo tournaments, and in Nagoya on October 24-26, 2025.

Receiving 4-5 star reviews from over 50 international theater critics and leading global publications, the play’s Japanese tour will involve Mongolian producers such as Cultural Envoy of Mongolia, actress and former Miss Mongolia Bayartsetseg Altangerel, along with Yesunmunkh Myagmar and Mongolian sumo Ryuo Sanchirbold Erkhem-Ochir. On the Japanese side, production will be led by Masayuki Suzuki, CEO of Tremendous Entertainment Japan, with Sunrise Productions Tokyo coordinating the Tokyo performances and Chukyo TV overseeing the Nagoya shows.

In 2023, “Mongol Khan” was performed 17 times at the Coliseum Theatre in London, attracting over 42,000 viewers. This year, the play was staged 22 times at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Theatre, which hosts 45 million visitors annually and drew an audience of over 30,000. The Singapore performances were attended by representatives of around 10 international production companies from countries such as the United States, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the Gulf Countries, Great Britain, Australia, and Malaysia.

In preparation for the Japanese performances, the creative team recently conducted promotional photo shoots at Mount Fuji, as well as in Tokyo and Nagoya. Additionally, efforts have begun to publish the Japanese version of the “Mongol Khan” comic book for release in the Japanese market.

People and communities should not be passive beneficiaries of development but active agents of change who can engage fully in economic, social and political life, and in building human security – while remaining committed to a healthy environment and careful stewardship of the planet for future generations.

This is the foundation of the Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which was developed in 1990 by late Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq to place a larger emphasis on policy discussions about people, about expanding their opportunities and choices, and improving their well-being.

Mongolia’s recently launched National Human Development Paper highlights the challenges faced by the country in energy transition and its impact on human development. Over the past decades, Mongolia’s Human Development Index (HDI) showed steady progress until 2018, but started to decline before pandemic. By 2022, it had recovered only to its 2016 level.

One of the causes for Mongolia’s HDI setback is country’s intensive reliance on fossil fuels that power its economy for electricity, heating, industrial, and export of mining products. Mongolia’s dependence on mining commodities makes its economy vulnerable to global market fluctuations, leading to negative impacts on s national income during global recessions. In the meantime, the country is now among the highest per capita CO2 emitters.

In 2021, Mongolia’s HDI was 0.739 which is below the 0.749 average for the East Asia and Pacific region and lower than the average for the neighbouring Europe and Central Asia region. Currently, Mongolia’s HDI of 0.741 in 2022 places it, at 96 out of 193, in the category of high human development countries.

UNDP Mongolia

In Ulaanbaatar and other urban centres, the coal-dependent energy systems, consisting of combined heat and power plants (CHPP) and heating stoves used by the people living in ger (yurt) housing, are exacerbating the air pollution. Moreover, Mongolia’s energy infrastructure is aging, inefficient, and heavily subsidized. The current energy choices, heavily reliant on coal, have not only degraded the environment but also caused significant public health risks. In winters, the air in Ulaanbaatar becomes hazardous to breathe due to high concentration of particulate matter.

UNDP’s planetary pressures-adjusted human development index (PHDI), which adjusts the overall HDI for carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint, reveals the environmental cost of the country’s coal-based development model. In 2022, Mongolia’s PHDI was 16.5% lower than its overall HDI, one of the largest adjustment factors across Asia and the Pacific, signaling the unsustainable trajectory of its growth.

In 2022, Mongolia’s HDI loss, as measured by PHDI was 16 percent, which is the highest discount among neighbouring countries.

With large environmental impacts and health risks, dependence on fossil fuels is providing costly and limited economic benefits. For instance, the mining sector, which accounted for 28% of the country’s gross value added in 2023, employed hardly 5% of the labour force, highlighting the country’s lack of economic diversification and untapped potentials in other sectors. Thus, the country’s high per capita CO2 emissions and heavy reliance on coal, demands a shift towards renewable energy to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

UNDP Mongolia

Given Mongolia’s abundant renewable energy resources and the decreasing costs of renewable technologies globally, the country is well-positioned to benefit from increasing its clean energy mix. Cleaner energy alternatives, particularly solar-powered heating solutions and heat pumps for ger areas, can significantly reduce air pollution and improve public health.

An energy transition will, however, affect the entire economy, particularly those industries and individuals that are deeply entrenched in the fossil fuel sector. It could have a disproportionate impact on different groups, as some jobs will be lost and investments in brown energy sector would be sunk. Therefore, the transition should be just and fair and leave no one behind. It must go beyond environmental goals to align with broader human development objectives, such as sustainable economic growth, social inclusion, energy security, and leveraging partnerships for global energy financing policy and climate mitigation efforts announced at COP29.

Investment in STEM education, skills development, and the reskilling of displaced workers will further ease the transition. Off-grid renewable energy solutions can enhance agricultural productivity and food security for rural farmers and herders; and increase food and energy independence and security for the country. Additionally, the clean energy sector presents new opportunities for economic diversification, creating jobs, particularly for women and youth. Inclusive policies must ensure that vulnerable groups, including internal migrants and herders, benefit from this transition.

A just energy transition (JET) thus, offers an opportunity for an equitable and smooth transition from brown to clean energy, enhances resilience against crises, fosters livelihoods and entrepreneurship, and creates decent employment opportunities across the economy (UNDP, 2024). A JET, would have a positive impact on all and would strengthen human development, setting Mongolia on a low carbon emissions path thus, accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goals and achieving NetZero by 2050.

To ensure an efficient and equitable energy transition, Mongolia will need comprehensive regulatory reforms, national and local energy transition strategies, blended climate finance for JET, investment plans for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and targeted training programs for reskilling its labour force that would be displaced from sectors impacted by transition. This will position the country to benefit from foreign investment and international cooperation.

By Yasin Janjua, Economist, UNDP in Mongolia

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has issued its first Mongolian tugrik (MNT) bond, the largest bond denominated in the Mongolian currency issued by a supranational to date.

The three-year bond, which raised 102.5 billion Mongolian tugriks—equivalent to approximately $30 million—creates additional liquidity in the Mongolian currency offshore market and supports IFC’s ongoing efforts to finance projects that drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.

Danish investment bank Global Evolution was the sole investor and Standard Chartered was the arranger. The bond will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. TCX served as the swap provider.

"Liquid and well-developed capital markets are essential for the flow of financing from investors to borrowers," said Flora Chao, Global Head of Funding at IFC. "The issuance provides increased visibility of the Mongolian tugrik in the global markets and allows investors to gain exposure to this currency.”

"Global Evolution is optimistic about Mongolia’s impressive rebound, driven by a significant commodity boom in 2023, which has proven sustainable into 2024 and beyond,” said Christian Mejrup, deputy CIO, Emerging Market Sovereign Debt at Global Evolution. “We greatly appreciate how this boom, combined with high nominal growth and strong fiscal performance, has facilitated critical changes to the fiscal stability law. These changes are highly positive for debt consolidation and highlight the strength of Mongolia’s structural development."

“Standard Chartered are thrilled to have worked on this inaugural, landmark size offshore MNT issuance for IFC,” said Annemarie Ganatra, Head of Structured Macro Solutions at Standard Chartered. “With only hard currency (US dollar) bonds issued by the government of Mongolia, this MNT issuance provides unique AAA-rated access for local currency investors.”

“It was our pleasure to partner with IFC on the largest-ever offshore bond issuance denominated in MNT,” said Xander Goudriaan, Head of Trading at TCX. “The issuance allows us to support more local currency financing flows to the country at attractive levels for borrowers. This protects them from currency risk and stimulates domestic capital market development for MNT assets at the same time. The size of the bond also demonstrates investor appetite, which is key to developing the market further. We look forward to partnering on many more of IFC’s impactful issuances.”

Over the past decade, IFC has been actively supporting the development of Mongolia's financial markets, advising the Mongolian government on green bond regulations and investing in the country’s first green bond in 2023.

To date, IFC has issued bonds in 48 currencies. A number of these are emerging-market currencies such as in Rwandan franc, Uzbek som, and Zambian kwacha. IFC has often been among the first non-domestic issuers to borrow in these markets, helping to develop local capital markets and expand liquidity in local currencies.

About IFC

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Mongolia officially began a nationwide vaccination campaign against human papillomavirus (HPV) on Thursday, aiming to combat cervical cancer, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) announced.

Hospitals across Mongolia will provide free HPV vaccinations to 11-year-old girls and boys, with parental or guardian consent, according to the NCCD statement. This follows the government's decision in December 2023 to include the HPV vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule for all 11-year-olds.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce HPV-related cancers, particularly cervical cancer, which is a significant health concern in Mongolia.

Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among women in Mongolia, as well as the fourth most prevalent cancer in the country overall, according to the NCCD.

In 2023, Mongolia recorded 425 new cases of cervical cancer and 165 related deaths in its population of 3.5 million. Currently, approximately 4,700 women in the country are undergoing treatment for the disease.