Hackathon
Youth Participation in Environmental Legislation
In line with this, an innovative hackathon was held as part of the Policy Empowerment Program, organized by the United Nations Association of Mongolia and the Mongolian Bar Association. Young members of the Youth Environmental Council took the opportunity to collaboratively develop concrete proposals for improving environmental legislation. They then presented their ideas directly to policymakers—an important step in bringing the voice of youth into environmental policymaking processes.
The participants were divided into four groups, each working on a different draft law:
- Environmental Protection Law
- Forest Law
- Law on Specially Protected Areas
- Climate Adaptation Law
They were guided by experts such as Mr. R. Lkhagvabayar, an expert from the Environmental Committee of the Mongolian Bar Association, and Ms. O. Monkhnasan, Senior Lawyer at PwC Legal Mongolia Financial Services. These professionals provided in-depth insights into the legislative process and the legal framework of environmental policy. A particular focus was placed on understanding fundamental legal principles and current challenges in legislation.
The young participants engaged deeply with key concepts such as legal coherence, clarity of norms, and the compatibility of new laws with existing legal provisions. They not only expanded their theoretical knowledge but also applied it in practice. For example, they pointed out that many current legal provisions are too vaguely worded, leaving room for interpretation—posing a risk to legal clarity. Their recommendations therefore focused on creating legislation that is more precise, comprehensible, and practical.
In addition to the substantive work, the participants also gained insights into democratic decision-making processes. They learned, among other things, how voting rights work in parliamentary elections and the significance of youth suffrage in political participation. One participant put it aptly:
“I not only learned how to vote on laws, but also that I need to constantly expand my knowledge in order to actively contribute.”
The recommendations developed during the hackathon send a strong signal for greater youth participation and transparency in environmental policymaking processes. They offer valuable input for sustainable, future-oriented legislation in Mongolia. It is crucial that political decision-makers take these voices seriously and translate them into concrete actions.