Ulaanbaatar Mongolia August 2026
House of Friendship Brings Mongolian Youth Voices to UNCCD COP17
A shared space for dialogue and action
The Hanns Seidel Foundation Mongolia Office rented and operated the 50 square metre pavilion in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The United Nations Association of Mongolia served as the main organizer throughout the two weeks of the conference, coordinating more than 60 side events. During the first week alone, the House of Friendship welcomed more than 1,000 domestic and international visitors in the Green Zone.
Open to the public, the pavilion hosted panel discussions, workshops, networking sessions and interactive activities, including climate action board games. It brought together government representatives, civil society organizations, international experts and young leaders. Although the pavilion was supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the United Nations Association of Mongolia, its energy and purpose came from the young people who used it to speak, learn and connect.
Making six months of youth engagement visible
For the Hanns Seidel Foundation's Environmental Law Project, COP17 was an opportunity to make the results of the previous six months visible. Members of partner youth organizations had completed a series of capacity-building activities designed to strengthen their knowledge, communication and participation in high-level environmental decision-making. At the House of Friendship, these young leaders moved from training to practice: they facilitated sessions, presented project results, engaged visitors and discussed their recommendations with national and international stakeholders.
The pavilion therefore served as more than an event venue. It connected long-term capacity building with public outreach and policy dialogue, allowing project deliverables to reach both the wider public and decision-makers attending COP17.
NEAYCC connects national work with Northeast Asia
The Northeast Asian Youth Climate Council participated in both Green Zone and Blue Zone activities. At the House of Friendship, NEAYCC presented its Climate Watchdog Report and the Mongolia Climate Adventure board game. These tools translated complex climate and environmental issues into accessible formats that encouraged discussion and public participation.
NEAYCC also invited three regional members from China, South Korea and Japan to join Mongolian members at COP17. Together, they took part in public side events in the Green Zone and in policy-focused discussions in the Blue Zone. Resident Representative Felix Jonathan Glenk joined the young delegates in the Blue Zone, supporting their engagement with the conference's formal processes and international participants. Their participation demonstrated how regional exchange can help Mongolian youth place national concerns within the wider environmental agenda of Northeast Asia.
Supporting NEYC and the Mongolian Youth Climate Alliance
The National Environmental Youth Council participated in the Green Zone with a dedicated 18 square metre space. The Hanns Seidel Foundation provided financial support for selected participants from the Local Conference of Youth to attend COP17 and supported booth assistants who helped operate the youth space and engage visitors.
The Foundation also covered the costs connected with the Mongolian Youth Climate Alliance memorandum initiative. This support enabled young people and youth organizations to strengthen coordination, present a shared commitment and build a foundation for cooperation beyond the conference. By bringing together trained participants, organizational initiatives and public engagement, the Green Zone became a practical space for youth leadership rather than simply an exhibition area.
HSF Korea brings wetland resilience to the pavilion
The House of Friendship also hosted a side event organized by HSF Korea. The event, titled Healthy Wetlands for Drought Resilience and Flyway Connectivity, brought together experts from across the East Asian Australasian Flyway to examine how connected wetlands can strengthen drought resilience, conserve biodiversity and support local communities.
The discussion emphasized three priorities: using scientific evidence to identify and protect critical habitats; including local livelihoods and community participation in restoration; and strengthening cooperation among people, institutions and countries across the flyway. By hosting this regional discussion in the House of Friendship, the pavilion connected Mongolia's land and climate priorities with wider environmental cooperation in Northeast Asia.
The work continues beyond COP17
Across two weeks and more than 60 side events, the House of Friendship showed what becomes possible when institutions give young people space, preparation and responsibility. It amplified Mongolian youth voices, made project results accessible to the public and created direct connections among young leaders, experts, civil society and decision-makers.
COP17 was an important milestone, but the protection of land and climate requires sustained work over the next 10 to 20 years and beyond. The Hanns Seidel Foundation Mongolia Office will continue working with government institutions, civil society organizations, regional partners and young people to turn the relationships and ideas developed at COP17 into long-term action for Mongolia and Northeast Asia.
Click the following link for further information on each of the specific events.