YES4GREEN

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.

The UNICEF Country Programme Document 2023-2027 specifies that Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) & Climate, Environment, Energy, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) programme will support children and adolescents to realize their right to safe WASH services and a healthy and sustainable environment while being better able to respond to climate, disaster and environmental risks and shocks. Within the Country programme 2023-2027, UNICEF Mongolia is aiming to reduce impacts of climate change and air and environmental pollution on children, pilot and scale up renewable energy systems and low carbon energy technologies at institutional and household levels and educate and engage children, adolescents and young people in tackling environmental issues and empower them to participate in and influence decision making processes for ensuring child rights to healthy and safe environment.

UNICEF has established and supported Youth for Climate Change and Clean Air Network (YOUCCAN) and initiated the Teen Parliament project jointly with the Parliament of Mongolia to empower adolescents to learn and in climate and environmental projects and participate in the decision-making processes, supported small-scale grant projects and advocacy work led by adolescents. Together with the Government of Mongolia and the partners, UNICEF organized Unleash Hackathon in 2021 focusing on air pollution and air quality. Based on the experience, UNICEF is initiating Youth Entrepreneurial Solutions (YES) for Greening, Renewable Energy, Environment and Nature-(YES4GREEN) contest among adolescents and young people.