KAS at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia: Youth Leadership and Climate Action
From 16 to 23 August 2026, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia participated in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Held under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”, COP17 brought together political decision-makers, international organisations, environmental experts, civil society representatives and young people to address land degradation, desertification, drought and climate resilience.
The KAS delegation included members of the Asian Women Parliamentarian Caucus (AWPC), members of the South Asian Youth for SDGs (SAYS), and representatives of KAS Political Dialogue Asia. In cooperation with KAS Mongolia, the programme enabled the delegation to participate in COP17 sessions, parliamentary discussions, political roundtables, youth exchanges and workshops.
The House of Friendship at COP17
Together with KAS Mongolia, KAS Political Dialogue Asia hosted a pavilion at COP17 entitled the “House of Friendship.” Throughout the conference, the pavilion served as a platform for political dialogue, knowledge exchange and networking. It hosted more than 54 events with various partner organisations, bringing together parliamentarians, researchers, young people, civil society representatives and environmental practitioners.
At the House of Friendship, KAS Political Dialogue Asia presented its regional programmes and initiatives. Members of SAYS shared their climate and environmental activities in Nepal, India and Bangladesh, demonstrating how young people are translating the Sustainable Development Goals into action within their communities.
The pavilion also showcased KAS-funded studies on grassland carbon readiness, legal approaches to desertification and land degradation, greenhouse-gas accounting for Mongolian organisations, and perceptions of climate change among nomads and young people. These studies connected the international discussions at COP17 with concrete, evidence-based approaches to sustainable land management and climate action in Mongolia.
Connecting Parliamentarians and Young People
During a visit to the Parliament of Mongolia, the delegation was welcomed by Member of Parliament Hon. Jargalan Batbayar. Two discussions focused on “Gender, Climate Change and Leadership: Advancing Inclusive Climate Governance” and “Youth, Climate Change and Leadership: From Participation to Action.”
The sessions brought together AWPC members, young participants and civil society representatives to discuss women’s political leadership, gender-responsive climate governance and meaningful youth participation in environmental policymaking.
Further exchanges during the programme addressed environmental technologies, renewable energy, the circular economy, water management, drone-based pasture monitoring and carbon-credit mechanisms. A workshop with the Zorig Foundation also enabled South Asian and Mongolian youth to exchange experiences and explore possibilities for future cooperation.
The programme concluded with a field visit to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, where participants learned about practical and community-based approaches to grassland restoration and climate resilience.
Through its participation in COP17 and the House of Friendship, KAS strengthened the connection between research, political dialogue and youth engagement. The programme highlighted the importance of involving parliamentarians, women and young people in environmental policymaking and created new opportunities for regional cooperation across Asia.
