Save the Children Mongolia Launches Climate Change Mitigation Project
(Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – August 23, 2024) Mongolia is at the center of climate change and has become one of the most vulnerable countries according to a recent study on the climate risks. Its geographical location makes the nation particularly susceptible to the impacts of global warming. The relatively low air humidity, combined with the mountains blocking the humid maritime climate, results in an increased number of cloudless days, reduced rainfall, and consistently hot, dry conditions throughout the year.
From 1940 to 2015, Mongolia has experienced a 2.24°C rise in average temperatures. This has led to fewer cold days and an increase in hot days. Simultaneously, annual precipitation has decreased by 7%, although winter snowfall has increased (Climate Change, Nutrition and Mongolia: A Risk Profile, UNICEF, FAO and IFPRI).
Save the Children (SC) Mongolia plans to implement “My Forest Child” project in Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar in 2024-2027 with funding support from Save the Children Korea.
The project launching event took place in Nalaikh on 22 August, 2024 and was attended by distinguished guests including SC Korea’s Board Chair Oh Joon, Honorary Board Chair Kim Nohbo, Board Members Kim Eunjung, Lee Sae Hoon, Lim Jung Gi, Cho Young Il and Auditor Bae Hwajoo. Other attendees were SC Korea’s management staff – Lee Jae Kwang, Global Strategy Director, Lee Won Hyung, Strategy Team Leader, and Chae Eunji, Green Impact Team Lead. The Governor of Nalaikh District, representatives from the Nalaikh Governor’s Office, and the management team and staff members from SC Mongolia also attended the event.
L.Bayan-Altai, Country Manager and Representative of SC Mongolia, spoke at the project’s opening, stating: “My Forest Child is the first project implemented by SC Mongolia in the field of mitigating climate change. The project activities will be based on the active participation of children, youth and communities in Nalaikh district. We are also partnering with four local schools to support student-led climate initiatives, establish youth clubs, and provide training on climate change awareness and mitigation”. He emphasized the project’s importance, noting, “the project is crucial, when the climate change impact is intensifying in Mongolia. On behalf of myself and our organization, I would like to extend our gratitude to Save the Children Korea for supporting us in implementing this important project”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Oh Joon, Chairman of the Board of Save the Children Korea, remarked, “Our organization works for children, and we also implement projects in the field of environment. Protecting your children means protecting the environment. This project will be implemented by involving children, youth, and residents of Nalaikh District, creating greener spaces and providing opportunities for a more comfortable living environment for the future generations. When we were children, we used to go to the mountains to plant trees every year. Since then, Korea has become heavily forested and no longer requires replanting. I remember how joyful it was when it rained during planting, and we would clap our hands in celebration. Today, the rain on a plantation day still brings that same joy. I hope that the trees planted today will grow into forests in the future,” he emphasized.
The Governor of Nalaikh District, Ulaanbaatar, H.Ankhbayar, expressed his enthusiasm during the opening ceremony, stating, “The Nalaikh district is thrilled to collaborate with Save the Children on addressing climate change. Our top priority must be increasing awareness among children and young people regarding the ongoing climate change. We are excited to have an important project in our district that focuses on promoting the participation of children and youth. We are committed to offering our full support and assistance to the project in every possible way”.
The project aims to plant trees in Nalaikh District, expand green spaces, and contribute to the mitigation of climate change. It also seeks to enhance climate change education and promote meaningful participation of students and youths in Nalaikh schools, colleges, and vocational institutions. Additionally, the project will focus on improving environmental knowledge among district residents while providing support for tree planting and fruit cultivation.
During their visit to Mongolia, the SC Korea delegation met with the senior management team and staff members of SC Mongolia to learn about the current strategies and plans of the organization. They also engaged with beneficiaries of the “Entrepreneurship-focused Socioemotional Skills for the Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia” and “Promoting Inclusive Education for Every Last Child in Mongolia” projects implemented by SC Mongolia. While visiting Uvurkhangai Province, the delegation met with herders, local authorities, and vulnerable communities affected by the Dzud disaster, learning more about the impacts of climate change in rural Mongolia.
