Building climate resilience in communities at home and abroad – planet state

Anar Amarjargal grew in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, a city once classified the most polluted capital in the world. At first, he knew that he wanted to be part of the solution to the complex environmental problems facing his community.

After completing a degree in Environment and Development in Japan, Amarjargal is now chasing it Ma in climate and society in the Climate School of Columbia. In the questions and answers below, he shares his global trip through sustainable investment, food systems and disaster recovery, and how he adopted his diverse but interconnected interests within the climate space.

What led you to the MA program in climate and society?

After the degree, I knew that I wanted to deepen my understanding of environmental science and find my niche. When I discovered the Climate School of Columbia, it stood out immediately, it is not just about climate change, but also how it affected societies. Coming from Ulaanbaatar, where climatic challenges are part of daily life, I felt a strong need to become a bridge between individual action and systemic change from top to bottom.

From Mongolia to Japan, and now to New York City, it has been an incredible trip, and I am very excited to continue learning and growing.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned during your educational trip so far??

I graduated from high school at 16. At that age, you really don’t know what you want to do with your life, so I let my parents choose my specialty. They chose accounting, since they said it is the most stable race that one can have.
A month in classes, I decided that it was not the way for me, and I decided to take a sabbatical year, exploring a variety of works. Looking back now, especially with the courses that I am taking in investments and sustainable finances, I realize that things have closed the circle. Many brilliant climatic ideas will not become reality without funds, so I want to learn to finance these gaps sustainably.
I have also passionate about food systems. There is so much emphasis on a fair energy transition, which is crucial, but I think we need an equal approach to a fair transformation of food. I am currently investigating exactly this in the Columbia Sustainable Investment Centerlearning about the livestock industry and where the capital flows.
Being in New York, there are so many incredible people in climate space. Taking these critical classes and practices with brilliant teachers here in Columbia and guest teachers, my perspective on the phenomena of climate change is expanding in every way.

Can you talk about the work you are doing in Türkiye? he Sustainable Urban Development Center?

He Better building Project in Hatay, Türkiye focuses on resilience and the built environment. The city was devastated by a massive earthquake, and now the challenge is: how is a city rebuilt to make it more resistant, not only to earthquakes, but also to climatic risks such as floods and heat waves?

I am currently working on data analysis and research related to sustainable floods and adaptation strategies.

What are the objectives of this project?

We are collaborating with the Global Columbia Center in Istanbul. Our goal is to equip governments and local communities with the tools and data they need. A key realization for me has been that, although the systemic change, from top to bottom, is critical, community members must be central for these efforts.

Many earthquake survivors still live in temporary container houses that were not built to support heat waves, floods or future t -shirts. The government plans to rebuild the city in five to 10 years, which is a long time to wait in vulnerable conditions. Long -term strategies are important, but we must also protect people in the immediate term. Therefore, to balance short and long term solutions is one of the greatest challenges that requires a thought level and collaborative management with multiple interested parties.

At this time, the government is not properly involved with local communities or listens to their needs. They need data, communication and collaboration with multiple interested parties, of the people who were directly affected to the political leaders. One of the main questions we are exploring is: how can we rebuild social resilience in such fragmented conditions?

Imagine losing not only your home, but also your entire community or city. It is traumatic. I hope our work contributes to practical reconstruction efforts, processable and informed by the community.

How do you put this initiative and your time in the program fit with your future goals?

Being in Columbia has exposed me to people around the world and how they experience climate change differently. I learned that while I have my own history and perspective, real solutions come from collective effort. I am grateful to be part of a school that is a leader in this space.

I hope to take this knowledge home and apply it to similar efforts in Mongolia. I know I can’t solve climate change alone, but I can help boost change in my own community.

Have you had mentors who helped you guide you?

Absolutely! I have been lucky to work with many brilliant and generous people: my academic advisor Lisa Dale and Malgosia Madajewiczwith whom I worked on a flood vulnerability index in the Rockways. In CCSII am investigating food systems with Lara Fornabaiowhich is incredibly passionate about the subject. It was presented to me Lisa SachsAnother incredible teacher whom I admire deeply.

Andrew Kruczkiewicz It has also been the best. It has helped me not only with technical work, but also with how to navigate the climate field, how to present better, negotiate and build a significant career. At the beginning of the semester, I felt pressure to be the best in one thing. He reminded me that he could be the person who connects multiple interests between sustainability. That advice really stayed with me.

What are your summer plans later? Class day?

This summer, I will work as a member with the accelerator program more than 100, collaborating with risk capitalists and new companies focused on sustainability to help give life to impressive projects. I will also be admitted to the United Nations Convention to combat desertification, where I will focus on attracting private investments and advancing finance solutions combined with climate resilience of scale.

What do you expect to do in the future?

I have many ideas. I previously entered Mongolia in a project that supported the GER communities. We give coal a lot, which drives our pollution problem. But Mongolia has an incredible and unplug potential for solar and wind energy. I want to help communities make coal transition to renewable energies, starting a small and scale over time.

One of my biggest objectives is to establish a climate research center at Ulaanbaat. Every year, extreme snow storms known as “Dzud” kill millions of cattle, devastating rural life. Not to mention our imminent challenges of water scarcity and desertification: we need a center where we can study and implement climate resilience projects.

I used to feel that I was not ready to join the workforce, but now I feel prepared and excited to take the next step. I am proud to represent Mongolia at Columbia University, and I am deeply grateful to everyone I have met here: the faculty, the mentors and my incredible cohort. I am eternally grateful to learn with some of the most passionate classmates and dedicated in this challenging and vital field.