UNCCD COP17: keeping land restoration and drought resilience on the global agenda
Discussion details
The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August, brought together governments, international organisations, civil society, scientists and the private sector to advance action on combatting desertification, land degradation and drought.
While formal negotiations delivered limited progress, Parties agreed to continue discussions on a future global approach to drought, extended work on the Convention’s future strategic framework and strengthened the role of science through the Science-Policy Interface. Decisions were also adopted on issues including land tenure, rangelands and pastoralists, agricultural land and soil health, capacity building and private-sector engagement.
Beyond the negotiations, the EU maintained a strong presence throughout COP17. It launched Thrivelands, a new EUR 20 million programme to mobilise investment for restoration and resilience in the world’s drylands, and showcased its support to Africa’s Great Green Wall, including through an EU co-financed pavilion and high-level discussions on financing and implementation.
COP17 also marked an important step in EU–Mongolia cooperation. The European Investment Bank and the Government of Mongolia signed a Letter of Intent for a sustainable forestry financing programme of up to EUR 200 million, including up to EUR 100 million in EIB financing, alongside EU support and additional financing sources. The programme aims to support forest protection, restoration and sustainable management, while fostering local businesses, jobs and livelihoods.
The EU also supported the launch of a new global report on drought resilience capacity, activities for women negotiators and several initiatives promoting sustainable finance, land restoration and private-sector engagement. Together, these actions highlighted the EU’s continued commitment to translating land restoration and drought resilience ambitions into partnerships, investment and action on the ground.
More information
- Thrivelands – launch of the EU-funded initiative to mobilise investment in dryland restoration and resilience.
- Great Green Wall Pavilion– EU-supported space for discussions on financing and implementation of the Great Green Wall.
- EU and Mongolia strengthen cooperation on forests, land restoration and sustainable finance at COP17 – overview of EU–Mongolia cooperation and Team Europe activities at COP17.
- COP17: Keeping ambition focused on implementation – joint statement by the EU and its Member States present at COP17.
- Mongolia launches SDG Finance Taxonomy Version 2.0 with EU and UNDP support – an example of how sustainable finance was translated into concrete action during COP17.