Building Emission Inventories of Air Pollutants from Road Transport and Energy Sectors: A Comparative Study between Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia and Major Cities in South Korea

In recent years, Mongolia has faced major challenges related to air pollution. Despite ongoing efforts by the Mongolian government to improve air quality, pollution levels continue to rise. Particularly in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, air pollution spikes during the heating season, making it one of the most polluted cities in the world. Mongolia typically requires residential heating for nearly nine months of the year. The primary heating solutions include coal-fired thermal power plants and coal-burning stoves used by residents in ger districts for heating and cooking. In Ulaanbaatar, over 50% of Mongolia's population resides. Mongolia's high usage of old vehicles, primarily imported second-hand cars, significantly contributes to air pollutants from the road transport sector. These factors play a major role in deteriorating Ulaanbaatar's air quality.

This study aims to build an emissions inventory of air pollutants from two main sources in Ulaanbaatar: the road transport sector and the energy sector. Furthermore, it seeks to compare Mongolia's policies on air pollution control with South Korea's air quality management policies. The methodologies used in this study incorporate Mongolian standards, South Korea's CAPSS air pollutant emission inventory system, and other international guidelines. Given that the extensive use of old vehicles, traffic congestion, and heating solutions are key contributors to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, it is crucial to quantify and analyze emission amounts from the road transportation and energy sectors.

This emission inventory will provide valuable insights into the true state of Ulaanbaatar’s air quality. By comparing Mongolia's policies with those of South Korea, which has effectively tackled air pollution, we can highlight effective strategies that can aid policymakers in planning future measures.

Acknowledgment: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (RS-2024-00356913).