Children and Climate Change in Mongolia:

Children and Climate Change in Mongolia:
Children’s Increasing Vulnerability and their Capacity as Agents for
Community Based Adaptation
Preslava Nenova-Knight
Global climate change is already affecting Mongolia. It is
putting poor and vulnerable children and their parents at risk
of losing their lives and livelihoods in the short run and
becoming increasingly vulnerable to detrimental changes in
the long run. Predicted effects include the increased
frequency of extreme weather and environmental hazards,
such as flash floods, droughts, snow and dust storms as
well as gradual unfavourable changes in precipitation
patterns, the shifting in ecological zones and
desertification.
Climate change is not a process that is occurring in
isolation, it will impact all processes and developments in
Mongolia, but most importantly the ways in which children
and their parents are able to access nutritious food, safe
water and sustain their livelihoods in a safe environment.
Therefore, climate change need not be addressed by
separate interventions, rather its impacts on core
development priorities must be continuously assessed and
such assessment integrated into the design, monitoring
and evaluation of programmes and policies.
A large portion of Mongolia’s population, and
mostly children, are vulnerable to extreme
weather events, the frequency and severity of
which is predicted to increase with climate
change. In this sense the reduction of child
vulnerability and the strengthening of Disaster
Risk Reduction policies in Mongolia can be seen
as key elements of adaptation to climate change
in the country.
Where the full extent of localised impacts is not
known with certainty, building resilience at the
household and community, local and national
levels must remain urgent priorities.
The capacity of local and national institutions to
adjust, modify or change their practices so as to
provide an enabling environment for sustainable
livelihoods in a changing climate should also be
built upon.
This paper outlines the most pressing issues
concerning children and climate change in
Mongolia and presents examples of children’s
capacity as agents for community based climate
change
adaptation,
before
outlining
recommendations on priority actions to
strengthen climate resilience at all levels with a
focus on vulnerable children.
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Risks to Children in Mongolia posed by
Climate Change
Decreased Access to Food. The more frequent
occurrence of livelihood shocks and increasingly
uncertain availability of natural resources to sustain
pastoral livelihoods will mean that food insecurity
among vulnerable children and parents will increase
with the following implications for children:
- Infectious diseases become more prevalent
and more likely to lead to infant mortality as
lowered immunity among children results from
increasing food and micronutrient shortages.
- Children become stunted or have poor brain
and physical development due to malnutrition.
Children under five years old are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of malnutrition since
they are in a vital stage of development and
lack of nutrients affects their lives and capacity
in the long term.
The level of food insecurity is high amongst children
in Mongolia. Seasonal food insecurity will be
severely exacerbated by increasingly adverse
weather and climate patterns caused by climate
change. In the rural calendar early spring is when
food is most scarce. Climate change is predicted
to exacerbate this as conditions leading up to
spring will be harsher for livestock and the onset
of spring will become delayed. More frequent
dzuds caused by climate change will lead to the
increased deaths of livestock, creating severe
food shortages in spring.
Dzud: A Mongolian word for mass mortality of
livestock resulting from a sequence of or single
occurrences of weather and environmental
extremes
There is a strong relationship between food
insecurity and the shocks and stresses caused
by climate change. This highlights the need to
address the underlying causes of lack of access
to food, whilst considering how these causes
will be affected by climate change. Food
insecurity is a key cause of vulnerability to
climate change and disasters.
Isolation. Isolation in remote areas will increase due
to the lack of road access as snow blizzards, snow
cover and dangerous icing are expected to become
more frequent. In the winter of the 2010, 12,500
people were left stranded in remote areas of which
almost 5,000 were children, elderly people, disabled
people and pregnant women (UNDP 2010). These
people were left with no access to fuel supplies,
medical services, medicines and facilities. For
children this means:
- Infants are delivered under unsafe conditions
increasing the risks of disability, death and
maternal complications, as families are more
likely to be cut off from healthcare facilities,
and increased stress will be placed on hospital
fuel reserves and infrastructure.
- Infants may die due to an increased prevalence
and fatality of pneumonia, Acute Respiratory
Infections and other infectious diseases
without access to medical treatment.
Disasters. The occurrence of dzud and other
climate-related disasters will become more
frequent with climate change, affecting child
vulnerability in the following ways:
- Children increasingly become engaged in risky
household coping strategies such as livestock
herding during snow blizzards.
- Children cannot be protected and cared for
properly when their parents are under extreme
stress, and they become vulnerable to a range
of other hazards in the home and outdoors.
There is evidence to show that parental stress
following a disaster increases child neglect and
thus vulnerability to injury and sickness.
- Children often become psychologically
traumatised. Psychological stress, resulting in
psychosocial trauma, makes it more difficult
for these children to enter into education. A
recent study by UNICEF revealed that 47
percent of children in areas affected by dzud
revealed signs of psychological stress characterized
by
expressions
of
disappointment, loss of self-confidence,
nervousness and insomnia.
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- More children will drop out of school and
some children may be coerced into or enter
child labour out of necessity in the aftermath
of a dzud. Boys are particularly vulnerable and
a particularly hazardous form of child labour is
informal mining.
Water Scarcity. An increased prevalence of
droughts and a decrease in the availability of
ground and open water sources will lead to:
- Increased risks to children’s health from water
borne infectious diseases.
- Deaths of livestock and food insecurity for
children that are part of pastoralist families.
Children’s Roles in an Adaptable Society
and Evidence of Children’s Capacity to
Contribute to the Resilience of Mongolian
Households and Communities
Children’s capacity to contribute to the resilience
of households and communities has become
evident in a range of countries adapting to the
negative effects of a changing climate. In
Mongolia children are major contributors to
household subsistence and livelihood activities.
They have an excellent knowledge of their
environment and a strong sense of responsibility
and duty to their parents. They play an important
role in their household’s preparation for adverse
and hazardous conditions and in coping strategies
during a disaster. Their practical skills and
knowledge in doing so can and should be
considered as a starting point for further adaptive
capacity building efforts by UNICEF and other
stakeholders.
Children have a right to genuine participation in
climate change adaptation efforts. Participatory
Learning and Action tools and techniques can be
used effectively to empower children to share
ideas, learn from each other’s experiences, form
and express views and put them into action. This is
particularly important in assessing their own levels
of climate risk, vulnerability and capacity, mapping
hazards in their environment and making their voice
heard in policy dialogue on adaptation to climate
change.
In Tsetserleg, Arkhangai, groups of children used
pictorial diagrams to represent the necessities for
preparing a Mongolian child for a climatic hazard.
Without
prompting children demonstrated
excellent awareness of the practicalities of
preparedness and the importance of early warning.
Children compiled exhaustive lists during inclusive
discussions with their peers. Items included: Mobile
phone to receive early warning messages or to alert
emergency services of hazard; map to identify the
location of the hazard and orient themselves to
safety spots, medical assistance and other human
capital, including numbers of people required to
help with laborious tasks was also identified as
essential
in
preparedness.
This
exercise
demonstrated the children’s ability to think
laterally, comprehensively and creatively about risk
reduction.
Children can play an important role in identifying
risky environments and environmental problems as
part of participatory adaptation planning. Children
in Mongolia have a detailed knowledge of their
physical environment. The participatory activities
described below are examples of children’s ability
to communicate this knowledge and use it as a basis
for action and positive change. A tool used
effectively for enabling Participatory Learning and
Action with children was child community and
hazards mapping.
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“…In springtime, rocks roll down onto the
playground… One of my friends was injured by
a rock… We want to have a playground where
we can spend our free time… This playground
is dangerous and not in a good place…” Boy, 11
years old, Chingeltei, Ulaanbaatar.
Children in peri-urban Ulaanbaatar, an area
identified as particularly vulnerable to climate
hazards and food insecurity, were randomly
selected from the streets of poorest area and
actively participated in producing detailed maps of
their community and locating hazardous areas and
areas affected by climate change. All of the children
depicted areas which flood during spring and
summer flash floods. During the activity and
without prompting, children expressed requests
and recommendations on actions they wanted
taken to improve their living environment and
safety in specific problem areas identified on their
maps of Chingeltei. They noted that the playground
they had depicted was presently inaccessible and
they wished it to be relocated as they have
nowhere to meet and play. They also pointed out
that this playground and other areas children
played at were located at a dangerous site where
rocks were prone to roll down in springtime.
“…Strong winds destroy the fences around our
ger, letting stray dogs wonder into our yard…
big floods happen in this area and I have seen
a ger floating on the flood water…” Boy, 10
years old, Chingeltei, Ulaanbaatar.
Children pointing out hazards during a walk in their
neighbourhood in peri-urban Ulaanbaatar
Continuing over-crowding of urban areas due to
climate change stresses in rural Mongolia will
worsen living conditions for peri-urban children
unless adaptation actions are taken with urgency.
The lack of safety in the environment, the wide
range and magnitude of the risks the children are
exposed to and the severe lack of suitable space for
children to play or spend leisure time all make a
striking impression in peri-urban Ulaanbaatar.
In Mongolia, children are often the main actors in
household coping strategies during disaster or
during periods of hardship. It is important to
distinguish between coping measures and
household adaptive capacity. The involvement of
children in emergency coping strategies is more
likely to increase their vulnerability rather than be
indicative of their heightened capacity as agents for
climate change adaptation.
A ger is a traditional Mongolian mobile dwelling,
with a wooden frame and felt insulation walls, used
by pastoralists and settlers on the periphery of
cities who have lost or abandoned pastoralist
livelihoods.
Learning and adapting: Children have a
greater capacity to learn and adapt to new
things. In the context of climate change,
children are therefore well placed to drive
forward shifts in behaviour which enable
climate resilient development.
Children holding up a map they have drawn of their living
area, including sites affected by climatic hazards
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Children taking part in a focus group discussions and
participatory exercises
“…At school rural children worry a lot about
their families back home when a dzud strikes.
Many children need to take days off school to
travel back to the family camp in order to
assist with care of the livestock. One boy from
my school lost his life while herding livestock
in a winter blizzard when he was 15. His
parents informed the teacher, who then
informed my class.” Girl, 16 years old, Khotont
soum, Arkhangai.
There is a lack of adaptive capacity at the household
level, which means households are unable to
prepare for, anticipate or react to a hazard with
flexibility using physical, social or adult human
capital. This means children are more likely to
become involved in emergency coping strategies
which typically increase their vulnerability.
“…Rural children are more at risk to disaster
than urban children because rural children
herd cattle. Many people live in very remote
areas and have no transport apart from horses
meaning they have no quick way to access
hospitals in an emergency.” Excerpts from
group discussions with adolescent schoolchildren
in Tsetserleg, Arkhangai.
Girl, 15 years old, milking her family’s yak. In the remote
pasture camp, she and her sister are responsible for the
livestock and their young brother, as their parents are
away for two days. Children’s practical contributions to
skills and knowledge mean they should be included in
practical adaptation solutions and decision making.
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The terms “adaptation” and “coping” are sometimes used interchangeably, leading to confusion
about the similarities and differences between these two important concepts.
Coping
Adaptation
Short-term and immediate
Oriented towards longer term livelihoods
security
Oriented towards survival
Not continuous
Motivated by crisis, reactive
Often degrades resource base
Prompted by a lack of alternatives
A continuous process
Results are sustained
Uses resources efficiently and sustainably
Involves planning
Combines old and new strategies and knowledge
Focused on finding alternatives
Implications for Children in Mongolia
Implications for Children in Mongolia
Children drop out of school in order to
assist with household coping strategies.
Children have a chance at involvement in
planning for their future and in becoming agents
for change.
Children are coerced into hard labour as a
livelihood coping strategy, lose their right to
leisure time and become exposed to a
hazardous or unhealthy work environment.
Children are exposed to hazardous
conditions in order to secure household
livestock survival. There have been
recorded cases of children perishing while
herding livestock during extreme climatic
conditions.
Emergency coping strategies include tying
of children to furniture in order to restrain
their movement as a substitute for child
care, ensuring children do not burn
themselves on the stove or stray outdoors
while parents are busy with labour during a
disaster.
“In the last winter of dzud I took turns to herd
our livestock...around 40 animals. I need to dig
the snow to assist the livestock to access the
grass, sometimes by hand. When there is a
snow blizzard I can’t see my way and I’m
Livelihood and food security for children are
integrated into adaptation planning in a
sustainable way.
Emphasis on future sustainability allows for
inter-generational equity.
Continuous participatory learning and action for
adaptation can ensure that parents and children
can take stock of new and innovative strategies
in building their resilience to climatic hazards
and adapting to a changed environment.
Longer term nature of adaptation ensures
capacities of children, parents and communities
are built over time catering for social and
cultural specificities of remote, isolated or
excluded children and adults.
afraid of getting lost. I’m also afraid of wolves.
My cheeks and ears freeze and I get frostbite…
this makes my ears very painful by the evening
and liquid comes from my ears.” Girl, 16 years
old, Khashaat soum, Arkhangai.
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The adaptive capacity of local and national
institutions, communities and households is
vital in the success of adaptation efforts. This
includes the acknowledgement at community
level of the contributions children make, for
instance to household and community
resilience, and of what they are capable of so
that adults and children together can respect,
protect and realise child agency for adaptive
livelihoods.
“…If a family has no way of receiving weather
forecast information, they can be affected by a
disaster. Rural children have less access to
weather warnings. Disasters may cause
parents' care for children to weaken.”
“…Young children don’t have knowledge
about just how dangerous extreme weather
conditions can be. If they do not have proper
care then they are more exposed to the
dangers.” Excerpts from group discussions with
adolescent
schoolchildren
in
Tsetserleg,
Arkhangai.
3.
Climate-proofed and retrofitted schools,
dormitories, hospitals, play areas, wells and
infrastructure. This is an urgent priority in
Mongolia. Dilapidated infrastructure needs
to be rehabilitated and adapted to an
increasingly severe and changing climate.
Incorporation of climate-proofing principles
into legally-binding building codes may be an
effective way to ensure this practice is
sustained.
4.
Ensuring genuine participation of children in
climate
change
adaptation
efforts.
Important
activities
should
include
supporting the creation of participatory
contingency plans with children in schools
and dormitories and encouraging children to
monitor their own levels of risk. The
participation of children who are typically
excluded from conversations in wider society
should also be a focus.
5.
Mainstreaming of climate change into key
policy documents relating to children.
Ensure that major national strategy and
policy documents relating to children include
an assessment of climate change risks to
priorities they set out, explicitly address
climate change and have been reviewed for
climate sensitivity and resilience.
6.
Education for children in remote areas.
Continue the support to mobile education
programmes to ensure the access to
information and the socialisation of children
in remote areas enabling them to express
opinions and views and to associate act on
adaptation to climate change.
Urgent Action for Child- Centered Climate
Change Adaptation in Mongolia
The following are ways in which UNICEF, partner
institutions and the Government of Mongolia can
cooperate to reduce the vulnerability and
enhance the adaptive capacity of the poorest and
most vulnerable children and their families:
Where the impacts of climate change remain
uncertain, measures that reduce communities’
underlying vulnerability to any shocks and
trends will be needed, such as: a focus on
children’s rights, empowering poor or
marginalised children and communities to be
involved in decision making, provision of
services and resources for health and education.
1. Ensuring a coordinated effort for national
disaster preparedness and DRR. Further
support for the Government and NEMA in the
co-ordination and management of national
disaster preparedness programming, including
strengthening of early warning systems and
ensuring child participation in the design and
implementation of local level DRR.
2. Addressing access to food and proper
nutrition. Interventions can include livelihood
diversification assistance, vocational skills
training and awareness raising on proper
nutrition for growing children and pregnant
women.
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Adaptation to climate change should also be
mainstreamed in the following objectives
which are already priorities of the Government
of Mongolia:

Support to programmes that improve access
to safe water and sanitation. Priority areas are
rural and peri-urban settlements. Linking
MNET, the Water Authority, and other
partners, targeted efforts could ensure that
adequate budget allocations and resources are
made to increase investments in the water
sector, with focus on peri-urban supply as well
as reaching remote off-grid population centres.
Initiatives could also engage relevant
authorities in drafting and strengthening action
plans under the new Integrated Water
Resources Management Plan (national level)
and Integrated Urban Water Management Plan
(Orkhon-Tuul river basin level), helping to
ensure that stakeholders are engaged and that
hospitals, schools and domestic use are
prioritized in water sector plans. UNICEF will
help identify urban communities who are and
will be most affected by shortages in water
supply, and propose short, medium and longterm solutions to help ensure that essential
needs are met.
 Providing sustainable solutions for heating
energy. Increasing frequency of dzuds due to
climate change will lead to increased pressure
on fuel supplies for households. This may lead to
an increase in the use of low quality solid fuels
which have been shown to be one of the leading
causes of morbidity among children in Mongolia
when used indoors for heating and cooking.
Sustainable solutions to this problem should
focus on reduced fuel and energy expenditure by
poor households and on healthier solutions for
domestic heating and cooking fuel and electricity
supply. Such solutions would be in line with
Mongolia’s National Renewable Energy
Programme and work with the Government
should ensure that schools and hospitals are
priority targets. The Global Alliance for Clean
Cookstoves may also be a source of lessons of
good practice and possible partnerships for
similar initiatives in Mongolia.
 Strengthening the role of local institutions and
Government in the provision of public goods
and services and the role of Government in
regulating market outcomes for subsistence
pastoralists. These should include the
identification of roles for local and central
government and priority areas include the
supply of emergency and seasonal fodder stocks,
and measures improving rapid destocking
capacity through market based solutions.
Photographs by: Preslava Nenova-Knight
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