Category
- Agriculture
- Automobiles and Machinery
- Bank, non banking financing, investment
- Blasting
- Construction
- Consumables
- Education
- Energy
- Engineer , Architecture and Geodesy
- Finance, Audit,Accounting and Brokerage
- Food
- Foreign Trade
- Geology Exploration
- Health
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Labor Safety
- Legal and Business consulting
- Lighting
- Mining equipment
- Mining Services
- Other product and service
- Road
- Sewing and textile products
- Transportations
- Travel
Events
When Dust Rises: The Impact of Mongolia’s Increasing Sandstorms on Beijing’s Air Quality www.bnn.network
Unseen by many, a silent storm is brewing on the plains of Mongolia, a storm that carries more than just sand and dust. It brings with it severe air quality issues, particularly for neighboring China. The capital city, Beijing, already suffers from air pollution, but the increasingly frequent sandstorms originating from Mongolia have added a new layer to the problem. These storms are attributed to the combined effects of climate change and economic development, and it appears Mongolia is on the brink of surpassing a tipping point towards irreversible desertification.
A Landscape Under Stress
The grasslands of Mongolia have been under significant stress due to overgrazing and mining. Livestock numbers have increased more than threefold since 1982, contributing to the degradation of the grasslands. Moreover, the mining sector, which accounts for 26% of Mongolia’s GDP, has also played a significant role in this environmental challenge. The degradation of the grasslands, in turn, contributes to the increased frequency and intensity of sandstorms.
A Collaborative Response
In response to this escalating problem, China and Mongolia have agreed to establish a joint center to combat desertification. However, the solution does not lie solely in these two nations’ hands. Other factors, such as the Asian winter monsoon, stronger polar vortexes in the Arctic, and increased cyclone activity in Mongolia, are also contributing to the problem. Future research will be required to establish whether this year’s increase in sandstorms is a one-off event or a new normal due to climate change.
The Fallout in Beijing
Beijing, a city already grappling with air pollution, is experiencing the fallout of these sandstorms. Chinese forecasters have warned citizens about the respiratory dangers and very low visibility while traveling during these events. Real-time air quality indices have shown serious pollution levels, with the concentration of fine particulates in the air in Beijing reaching 46.2 times the World Health Organization’s annual air quality guideline value.
The impact of the sandstorms is not confined to Mongolia and China. A dozen provinces, including Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan and Hubei, Inner Mongolia, and the metropolis Shanghai, are affected by these sandstorms and major dust events. The sandstorms have become a hot topic on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform, with users expressing concerns about the effects on their daily lives and health.
Moving Forward
These sandstorms pose significant human security challenges, including food insecurity, threats to human health, and infrastructure degradation, plus human migration to escape these impacts. However, they also present an opportunity for international cooperation and the development of joint programs to mitigate, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of these sandstorms.
The future might be uncertain, but one thing is clear: the increasing frequency of sandstorms in Mongolia is more than just an environmental issue. It’s a regional security concern that requires a comprehensive, collaborative response. The dust storms are a stark reminder of our interconnected world, where a problem in one area can have far-reaching effects in another.
Published Date:2023-07-25
