Program
Clearing the Air Through Women-Led Energy Solutions
Mongolia’s urban smog has enormous economic and social costs. Our programming helps women entrepreneurs install energy systems that reduce pollution and energy costs and allow them to focus on growing their businesses.
Women are playing an increasingly important role in helping communities adapt to changing environmental conditions while reducing air pollution in Mongolia’s rapidly expanding urban areas.
This initiative supports women entrepreneurs and community leaders to adopt new energy technologies, grow clean energy enterprises, and advance locally led solutions that reduce air pollution and lower household energy costs.
Supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the project equips women—particularly recent migrants to urban areas—to lead Mongolia’s efforts to strengthen environmental resilience.
APPROACH
The project builds on efforts launched in Ulaanbaatar in 2022 with URECA LLC and GerHub NGO, when five households piloted a transition from coal heating to solar-powered systems.
Following the pilot’s success, the initiative expanded in 2024 through eight Women’s Business Center entrepreneurs, contributing to more than 80 households adopting solar energy and insulation upgrades. Each participating household can prevent up to 15 tons of emissions annually while reducing energy costs by approximately 50 percent—demonstrating a scalable approach to cleaner, more resilient urban communities.
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Getting Detached: How Coal-to-Solar Is Moving Beyond Mongolia’s Gers
