Supporting Mongolia's process for effective NDC implementation

In Mongolia, rural communities and pastoralists are among those most vulnerable to climate change, and it is often the country’s provincial and district governments who are the first responders to climate events. That is why implementing effective climate action requires all levels of government and society to be engaged during all stages of the process.

Over the past three years, the Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA) programme has been supporting Mongolia to build capacity, ensuring an inclusive and participatory approach to the implementation of its national climate plans.

SCALA has been equipping provincial Mongolian officials with essential knowledge and resources to help pave the way for concrete climate action on the ground, while helping Mongolia reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen its resilience to climate change impacts, advancing towards meeting its Paris Agreement commitments.

Survey helps identify and close knowledge gaps to drive climate action

Mongolia’s dedication to addressing climate change is clearly outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), with ambitious mitigation targets aiming for a 22.7 percent reduction in total national greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. With a massive livestock sector, Mongolia needs to tackle both climate adaptation and mitigation goals in tandem. The NDC is closely aligned with the country’s national development strategy and framework; thus, implementing the NDC targets should bring Mongolia closer to realizing its overall development goals.

As part of its support in Mongolia, in 2023 the SCALA programme supported a survey to assess the preparedness of provincial officials for implementation of its climate plans. The objective of the survey was twofold: to assess the existing knowledge and understanding of climate change impacts among provincial officials, and to identify gaps in their capacity for climate action implementation. The survey sought responses from 153 officials from various district- and province-level government bodies across all 21 provinces of Mongolia. These government bodies represent key sectors, such as agriculture, emergency management, environment, health, and meteorology.

The survey findings revealed a significant gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application among officials. Only a quarter of respondents reported practical application of climate-related learnings, emphasizing an urgent need for enhancing and building their capacity. Additionally, approximately 76 percent of surveyed officials expressed unfamiliarity with Mongolia's NDC, highlighting a need for widespread dissemination and understanding of the country’s commitments to achieve its climate goals.

Based on positive survey recommendations, six training guidelines were developed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capacities of all officials and government bodies involved in NDC implementation and broader climate action. These guidelines cover various aspects including introduction to Mongolia’s NDC, climate finance, stakeholder engagement and communication, climate resilience and adaptation, and NDC implementation in the agricultural and energy sectors. Scheduled for implementation in 2024, the expected impact of these training sessions is to foster understanding and ownership of the NDCs among policymakers and local-level stakeholders, crucial for driving solutions and accelerating action to meet NDC targets.

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The SCALA programme, co-led by FAO and UNDP and funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), is supporting Mongolia and other countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America advance towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future.