Under the patronage of President U.Khurelsukh, Mongolia hosted the international forum “Sustainability Dialogue 2025 - Climate Action: Billion Trees” on June 6–7 at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar. This high-level event brought together over 600 participants from 11 countries, including more than 40 distinguished speakers representing the climate, finance, and technology sectors.
The forum served as a key platform for aligning Mongolia’s climate-related policies with global goals, attracting investment, strengthening multi-sector partnerships, and promoting innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The gathering also focuses on advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 by fostering international cooperation on urgent issues such as land degradation, desertification, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
President U.Khurelsukh, in his opening remarks, emphasized that tackling the global climate crisis requires regional collaboration, shared responsibility, and unified action. He reiterated Mongolia’s commitment to working openly and effectively with international partners, development organizations, and donor institutions. “Let us work together, with shared purpose and vision, to protect Mother Earth and secure a greener future for generations to come,” the President urged.
One of the central themes of the forum was Mongolia’s “Billion Trees” national movement, launched in response to pressing environmental issues. Over the past three years, the initiative has led to the planting and nurturing of 84 million trees, the cultivation of 86 million saplings, and the protection of 1.9 billion trees from harmful pests. The campaign is a core part of Mongolia’s broader climate resilience strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through sectoral reforms in energy, transport, agriculture, mining, and urban development.
Former United Nations Secretary-General and founder of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, Ban Ki-moon also joined the event and addressed the forum. He praised Mongolia for spearheading the “Billion Trees” initiative, calling it a concrete contribution to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement. “The implementation of climate action and sustainable development has reached a new stage,” he said. “Now is the time for united, unwavering commitment that includes innovation, research, and inclusive partnerships.”
In addition to national efforts, Mongolia has taken climate leadership to the international stage. It has introduced two UN General Assembly resolutions, designating 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives and 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Furthermore, as part of the upcoming UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP17 in Ulaanbaatar in 2026, Mongolia proposed the umbrella initiative “Global Alliance on Sustainable Rangelands and Land for the Future”. This alliance seeks to channel investment into over 100 countries that practice traditional pastoralism, aiming to protect the livelihoods and ecosystems of nearly 500 million people worldwide.
As the “Sustainability Dialogue 2025” concludes, the message became clear: global environmental resilience demands unified vision, bold action, and long-term collaboration.
The forum was co-organized by the Office of the President of Mongolia, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, Stanford University’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, and the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association. It also receives support from international bodies such as the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank, alongside civil society groups and private sector contributors like Oyu Tolgoi LLC.
Growing global leadership in climate action commended
During his visit to Ulaanbaatar for the occasion of “Sustainability Dialogue 2025 – Climate Action: Billion Trees” International Forum, President of U.Khurelsukh welcomed Ban Ki-moon in a separate meeting.
At this high-level meeting, President U.Khurelsukh praised Ban Ki-moon’s distinguished legacy in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), protecting the environment, and leading global climate efforts during his tenure at the United Nations. The president expressed particular appreciation for Ban’s continued engagement through initiatives like the current forum.
Ban Ki-moon, who holds Mongolia’s highest honor, the Order of Chinggis Khaan, thanked President U.Khurelsukh for organizing the forum and for his visionary leadership on climate and sustainability. He expressed confidence that Mongolia’s example would inspire other nations to strengthen their own commitments to environmental protection and SDG implementation.
In a gesture of strong support, Ban Ki-moon announced a donation of 180 million MNT to Mongolia’s “Billion Trees” national movement, an reforestation effort initiated by President U.Khurelsukh to combat desertification, restore ecosystems, and build climate resilience. Ban also proposed expanding the initiative into a regional movement, signaling deeper future collaboration between Mongolia and his foundation.
As part of the forum’s activities, President U.Khurelsukh and Ban Ki-moon joined members of civil society and youth organizations in planting trees at the Peacekeepers’ Grove in the National Garden Park. The grove honors the contributions of more than 20,000 Mongolian peacekeepers who have served in United Nations missions worldwide. Ban Ki-moon, who met many Mongolian peacekeepers during his time at the UN, commended the initiative, calling it a meaningful tribute to their service.
Participants in the tree planting included members of the Northeast Asian Climate Change Youth Council, the United Nations Association of Mongolia, the Forest Department, the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council, and staff from the National Garden Park. According to the Office of the President, current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also planted a tree at the Peacekeepers’ Grove during his visit to Mongolia in 2022.
The “Sustainability Dialogue 2025” forum continues to serve as a vital platform for forging international cooperation, accelerating climate action, and showcasing Mongolia’s contributions to a greener, more sustainable world.
