Mongolia

The nomadic culture is the essence of what it is to be a Mongolian, but this is a country in dramatic and sudden transition. Climate change is a major culprit, and Mongolia, landlocked and far from the moderating effects of the ocean, is suffering more than most parts of the world. At the best of times, this is a fragile climate, with little rainfall and huge variations in temperature, which is why this vast territory supports a population of only 3 million people, making it the world’s most sparsely populated country. Summers, when most of the rainfall occurs, have become drier, and “extreme climate events” have become more frequent. Hundreds of rivers, lakes and springs have dried up across the country. And as the water retreats, the desert advances. Roughly three-quarters of Mongolia’s land is degraded or suffering desertification. and the Mongolian identity — being a nomadic person, being close to nature — is being lost. Simon Denyer