A new study by the World Bank and the Independent Research Institute of Mongolia (IRIM), with support from the Climate Investment Fund, provides an urgent and revealing look at how Mongolian citizens, especially rural herders, are experiencing and responding to climate change. Drawing on the country’s first nationally representative Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) survey on climate change, the report explores how Mongolians perceive the climate crisis, what actions they are taking, and where policy and governance must improve to support a more resilient, inclusive transition.
A Nation Warming Fast, With Rural Communities on the Frontline
Mongolia is warming at a rate three times the global average, and the consequences are being felt most acutely by rural communities. More than 75 percent of the land is affected by desertification, and nearly a quarter is classified as severely degraded. Dzuds, brutally cold winters with heavy snow, have become more frequent and destructive, while droughts, floods, and heat waves have also intensified. These climate pressures are driving a wave of internal migration, as rural families, unable to sustain traditional herding livelihoods, move toward urban areas. Ulaanbaatar alone now houses over half the nation’s population, placing enormous strain on infrastructure and services, and contributing to social fragmentation.
The agriculture sector, which includes livestock breeding, is not only highly vulnerable to these climate shocks but is also a major contributor to emissions. Despite accounting for nearly half of Mongolia’s greenhouse gas emissions, livestock’s role in climate change remains underrecognized by the public. Only 16.5 percent of survey respondents associated livestock methane with global warming, compared to 56.7 percent who identified fossil fuel use and 43.7 percent who pointed to deforestation. This gap between perception and reality underscores the need for better education and outreach, particularly among herders.
Citizens Are Concerned, But Misconceptions Still Run Deep
The survey, which reached 1,426 respondents across rural and urban settings, revealed that a solid majority (76.6 percent) believe climate change is real and primarily caused by human activity. Yet, only 39 percent of participants were able to reject all three widely circulated climate misconceptions, such as the belief that climate change only affects polar regions or that small temperature changes have no impact. Misconceptions were more common among rural populations, especially herders, where just 32.3 percent demonstrated accurate climate understanding compared to over 50 percent among urban respondents.
Worry about climate change was closely tied to life experience. Herders and older citizens, those who have lived through severe weather events, were far more likely to express concern. For example, 41.3 percent of herders said they were more worried about climate change than the year before, compared to 35.6 percent of urban residents. Experience with disasters, such as floods or drought, was also a predictor of greater awareness and readiness to act. Yet many people still view climate change as a future issue or something occurring in faraway places, even though over 57 percent said they had already experienced its effects.
Herders Are Willing to Act but Need Tools, Knowledge, and Support
Herders, who form the backbone of rural Mongolia, are already adapting in important ways. Many reported adopting practices like building better shelters, stockpiling fodder, and shifting to more resilient livestock breeds. However, more complex strategies, such as water resource management, pasture rotation, or collective pasture agreements, remain less common. These require technical knowledge, coordination, and often government support, which are often lacking in rural areas.
Only 27 percent of herders surveyed were part of cooperatives or associations, limiting their ability to manage shared resources or advocate for support. Trust issues, unequal distribution of benefits, and limited leadership capacity were frequently cited as barriers to joining such groups. Nonetheless, the appetite for collaboration is strong: nearly three-quarters of citizens said they would participate in collective climate adaptation efforts if others did too, suggesting that peer influence and leadership could help spark broader behavior change.
Local Governments Trusted but Underpowered
Citizens named local governments and the National Emergency Management Agency as the most trusted institutions when it comes to climate adaptation. Yet these institutions often lack the resources and authority to fulfill their mandates. Soum-level administrations are responsible for regulating pasture use, collecting livestock head taxes, and promoting environmental stewardship, but with limited staff, low technical capacity, and little coordination between regions, these responsibilities are difficult to implement effectively.
Only one-quarter of respondents believed they had any way to express their needs to government authorities. Participation in climate-related decisions is rare, especially in remote areas where in-person meetings are hard to organize. Digital platforms and community-based organizations remain underused, highlighting a missed opportunity for more inclusive policy development.
Behavior Is Changing, But Big Gaps Remain
Most citizens have already adopted several sustainable daily practices. Over 70 percent reported actions like using energy-efficient appliances, conserving water, or reducing waste. However, fewer had embraced behaviors such as planting trees, switching to renewable energy, or reducing meat consumption. The latter is especially difficult in a society where meat is deeply embedded in cultural and dietary traditions. While urban residents showed strong interest in renewable energy, they often lacked access to infrastructure or financial means to make the switch.
The most frequently cited barriers to adopting sustainable practices were lack of information (40 percent), inadequate financial support (33 percent), and limited technical skills (25 percent). In the western region, where climate impacts are most severe, citizens expressed the highest need for diverse types of support. Notably, 44 percent of all respondents said financial incentives would help them make more sustainable choices, and 38 percent emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness and insurance.
While climate change is already reshaping Mongolia’s landscapes and livelihoods, the public, especially in rural areas, is willing and ready to act. What’s missing is targeted, inclusive support to empower citizens with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to adapt effectively. As Mongolia develops its new climate laws and regional development strategies, it must center the voices of those most affected. Only then can a just, locally grounded, and sustainable transition take root.

Published Date:2025-07-31