Ulaanbaatar, December 25, 2023 /MONTSAME/. The closing ceremony of the UN Youth Delegate Environmental Leadership 2023 program, jointly organized by the Office of the President of Mongolia, the Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Association, and NGOs for four months since August, took place on December 22, 2023.

At the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the importance of youth participation in tackling the climate crisis was highlighted. As part of the UN Youth Delegate Environmental Leadership program, since 2022, young leaders annually participate in international environmental conferences, bringing the voice of Mongolian youth to the global level.

G. Erchissaran, the best participant in the Youth Delegate Environmental Leadership program 2023, shared her experience of participating in COP28: "Developing countries are the last to be blamed for the problem of climate change, but they suffer the most. I have a startup company that produces environmentally friendly materials. We recycle manure, waste paper, felt, and coffee beans to produce paper and other products. I think our country needs more investment in science and innovation and should improve university education, and create research laboratories."

 As part of the Youth Delegate Environmental Leadership 2023 program, thirty young people aged 18-30 were enrolled in courses on various environmental issues through an open online selection. The participants had an opportunity to learn about the latest research, methods, and skills of leading scientists and young leaders from countries such as the USA, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, and India.

One of the goals of the Youth Delegate Environmental Leadership Program 2023 was to raise the voice of youth to the international level. In this context, a Local Youth Conference was organized, the results of which were officially presented to the Global Youth Statement, which represents more than 700,000 young people around the world.

"In my presentation at the COP28 Conference, I highlighted that youth can actively participate in the issue of climate change and have their voices heard at the decision-making level. At the political level, it is necessary to stop using briquettes and coal and make renewable energy more accessible," said B. Enkhuun, a participant of the Climate Youth Negotiators Programme and Operations Director of the Breathe Mongolia-Clean Air Coalition NGO.

B. Naranzaya, a participant in the Climate Youth Negotiators Programme, a student at the National University of Mongolia stated: "Young people can actively contribute to the issue of climate change. I believe basic knowledge about climate change should be taught in primary school. Then young people can unite to implement joint projects and raise their voices."

Ten out of the thirty attendees in the Youth Delegate Environmental Leadership 2023 were from law firms. The Mongolian Bar Association focuses on the engagement of young lawyers and legal experts in environmental issues and has also involved industry participants in training and events. Lawyer O. Munkhnasan will represent Mongolia at the UN Environment General Assembly, which will be held in Kenya in February 2024.