As Mongolia prepares to host the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), World Vision Mongolia has been leading the Young Voices for COP17 advocacy campaign to ensure that children and young people are meaningfully represented in environmental decision-making processes.

World Vision Mongolia has extensive experience in amplifying children’s voices and creating opportunities for meaningful participation in public policy discussions. Through this campaign, children were not only consulted but empowered to become active contributors to solutions for environmental challenges affecting their lives and futures.

As a cornerstone of the campaign, a nationwide child-led research initiative engaged children aged 12 to 18 from both urban and rural communities across Mongolia. A total of 2,000 children participated in the survey, while 40 children contributed through focus group discussions. Together, they explored key issues related to desertification, land degradation, climate change, nutrition, and food security.

The research revealed that environmental degradation is not an abstract issue for children. They experience its impacts directly through water scarcity, degraded pastures, droughts, dust storms, pollution, and increasing climate-related risks. Children also highlighted the growing challenges of accessing affordable and nutritious food as environmental pressures continue to affect livelihoods and food systems. 

Importantly, children demonstrated a clear understanding of the connection between environmental health and human wellbeing. They emphasized that land degradation and desertification affect not only ecosystems but also nutrition, health, education, and future opportunities for children and their communities. 

Children also made it clear that they want to be part of the solution. Their recommendations included tree planting, ecosystem restoration, water conservation, waste reduction and recycling, stronger environmental education, improved school food environments, and greater participation of children in local decision-making processes.

To bring these voices to a wider audience, World Vision Mongolia produced and broadcast a nine-episode documentary series titled Restoring Our Nature, showcasing children’s perspectives, experiences, and recommendations. The series helped raise public awareness and encouraged meaningful dialogue around environmental restoration and youth engagement in the lead-up to COP17.

As part of the campaign’s advocacy efforts, children and youth representatives participated in the National Youth Forum on Climate Change, organized by the National Environmental Youth Council. During the forum, they presented the research findings, key messages, and recommendations developed through the child-led research process. Their participation ensured that children’s perspectives were heard directly by decision-makers and stakeholders involved in shaping environmental policies and COP17-related discussions.

This milestone represents an important step toward ensuring that children’s voices are reflected in national and international conversations on land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Children and young people continue to strengthen their preparation and engagement for COP17, determined to contribute meaningfully to the decisions that will shape their future.

World Vision Mongolia remains committed to supporting meaningful child participation and promoting child-led advocacy, recognizing that sustainable solutions are stronger when children are included as partners in creating them.