How youth leadership turned COP30 outcomes into action for Mongolia’s climate-vulnerable communities

2025 marks a milestone year for climate governance, with most countries submitting their Nationally Determined Contributions ( NDC 3.0 ) under the Paris Agreement. In this crucial moment, Ekota , co-developed by UNDP and Cogco, serves as a digital platform that uses deliberative technology  to make climate planning more inclusive, participatory, and future-ready. This year, 15 online youth conversations were hosted on Ekota, spanning global, regional, subregional, and nationa

By Joanna Wari, Area Administrator, Local Conservation Specialist, Youth Coordinator, and Entrepreneur, Vanuatu and Rony Barang, Kava Farmer, Taxi Driver, and Entrepreneur, Vanuatu Kava Leaves. Source: Getty Images We come from different parts of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world. With limited digital access, unreliable roads and transport, and no electricity in many areas, starting and sustaining a business here takes more t

Across Asia and the Pacific, young people are stepping into decision making spaces with bold ideas and practical solutions...