UN land conference opens in Mongolia to accelerate global action on restoration and resilience

•  As land degradation, drought and water scarcity increasingly threaten food security, livelihoods and stability, UNCCD COP17 will place healthy land at the centre of human wellbeing and prosperity

• Delegates representing 197 UNCCD Parties, international organizations, financial institutions, businesses and land stewards are expected to gather in Ulaanbaatar from 17-28 August 

• Mobilizing public and private investment to accelerate land restoration and drought resilience will be one of the defining priorities of COP17
• Governments will also advance decisions on drought resilience, rangelands, sustainable agriculture and soils, and private sector engagement

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 17 August 2026 – Delegates from 196 countries and the European Union gathered in Ulaanbaatar today for the opening of the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).  

Over the next two weeks, governments, financial institutions, businesses, scientists and civil society will work to advance practical solutions, forge new partnerships and mobilize investment for land restoration and drought resilience, while Parties negotiate decisions on drought, rangelands, agricultural lands and soils, resource mobilization, private-sector engagement and the Convention's future strategic direction. 

The decisions, partnerships and initiatives launched at UNCCD COP17 are expected to strengthen international cooperation on sustainable land management, land restoration and drought resilience over the coming years, at a time when countries are facing increasing pressure from land degradation, water scarcity and climate change. 

Land degradation and drought are estimated to cost the global economy nearly USD 900 billion every year and already affect up to 40 per cent of the world's land and 3.2 billion people. Droughts have increased by almost one-third since 2000 and now generate at least USD 300 billion in annual losses. 

As the first of the three Rio Convention COPs taking place in 2026, ahead of the biodiversity and climate conferences, COP17 provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation across the Rio Conventions and accelerate practical action on land degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, food and water security and water resilience. 

H.E. N. Uchral, Prime Minister of Mongolia, said: “The greatest change we want to see from COP17 is a shift from talk to action, from targets to implementation, and from commitments to measurable results. Mongolia therefore calls for tangible progress at this conference. 

First, let us address land, climate and biodiversity not as separate issues, but as interconnected challenges. Second, let us increase investment in land restoration and take cooperation between governments, international financial institutions and the private sector to a new level. 

Third, let us make drought resilience not only an environmental policy issue, but a core part of development policy. Fourth, let us place the knowledge and participation of rangeland users, herders and local communities at the centre of global land management policy. 

Fifth, let us turn science, technology and innovation into practical solutions and real investment. Sixth, let us work together to create the enabling conditions to turn commitments into measurable results.” 

UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said: “Land degradation and drought are no longer distant environmental concerns. They are already affecting the food we produce, the water we depend on, the resilience of our economies and the ability of communities to build secure futures. Healthy land is the foundation of healthy food systems, resilient economies and stable societies. 

COP17 must therefore be a COP of implementation. The world does not lack solutions; the challenge is taking them to scale. Ulaanbaatar must mobilize the political leadership, investment and partnerships needed to move from commitments to measurable results on the ground. Restoring land is not simply an environmental obligation—it is an investment in people, stability and resilience. 

At a time when multilateralism is being tested, COP17 is also an opportunity to show that countries can work together to deliver practical solutions that improve people's lives. Our measure of success will not simply be the decisions we adopt, but the change those decisions unlock for communities, economies and landscapes around the world and ability to mainstream land in new development sectors to prevent its future degradation.” 

H.E. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and UNCCD COP17 President, said: “For Mongolia, land is inseparable from our people, our livelihoods and our future. As a country where pastoralism remains central to our society and where land degradation, drought and dzud are already placing growing pressure on communities, we know that the health of our land has direct consequences for people’s lives. 

Hosting COP17 is both a responsibility and an opportunity to bring the experience of dryland countries and pastoral communities to the centre of global discussions. Mongolia will work with all Parties to make Ulaanbaatar a place where countries come together around practical solutions for healthier land, more resilient rangelands and a more secure future for the people who depend on them.” 

H.E.  Sandag-Ochir Tsend, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia and Chair of the National Committee for the Organization of UNCCD COP17, said: “Mongolia has completed its preparations to host UNCCD COP17 and stands ready to welcome delegates and guests from around the world. 

Desertification, land degradation and climate change are interconnected global challenges with far-reaching impacts not only on the environment, but also on food security, economic stability and livelihoods. COP17 will therefore provide a vital platform for strengthening international cooperation and advancing practical solutions. 

As the host country, Mongolia will promote constructive, consensus-based dialogue and work to ensure the inclusive participation of all Parties and stakeholders. 

The outcomes of COP17 must go beyond negotiated decisions and translate into concrete action, greater investment and stronger partnerships to halt and reverse land degradation, safeguard rangelands and soils, restore degraded land and combat desertification. Achieving this will require the active engagement of governments, the private sector, international organizations and financial institutions. 

I am confident that COP17 will mark an important step towards stronger international cooperation and accelerated global action to address desertification, land degradation and drought.” 

For host country Mongolia, these issues are part of everyday life. Nearly 77 per cent of the country's land is degraded, while pastoralism supports the livelihoods of one in three Mongolians. In 2023 and 2024, severe summer drought followed by devastating dzud winters resulted in the loss of more than seven million livestock, highlighting the growing vulnerability of dryland communities and the urgent need to strengthen resilience. 

Strengthening drought resilience 

Building on the progress made at COP16 in Riyadh, governments at COP17 will continue discussions on a global policy framework on drought while strengthening the practical tools, partnerships and financing mechanisms needed to help countries turn drought plans into action. Parties will discuss measures to strengthen preparedness, early warning systems, vulnerability assessments and international cooperation. 

More than 70 countries have now developed national drought plans, compared with only three in 2013, reflecting growing recognition that drought must be managed proactively rather than only once it becomes a humanitarian and economic crisis.  

Every dollar invested in drought resilience can generate returns of up to USD 10, while some nature-based solutions deliver benefits of up to 27 times their cost. 

COP17 will also feature new tools and partnerships to help countries strengthen drought preparedness and resilience, including announcements related to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, the Drought Resilience Investment Facility and the International Drought Resilience Observatory as well as other related programmes and projects. 

Closing the multibillion finance gap 

Mobilizing greater public and private investment for land restoration and drought resilience will be one of the defining priorities of COP17. 

An estimated USD 355 billion is needed every year to combat land degradation and drought, yet current investment stands at only around USD 77 billion, leaving an annual financing gap of USD 278 billion. 

Despite depending heavily on healthy land and reliable water supplies, the private sector currently provides only around six per cent of global land restoration and drought resilience finance. Public resources alone are unlikely to close the gap, highlighting the need to strengthen collaboration between governments, development banks, businesses and investors. 

COP17 will explore how to unlock new sources of finance, strengthen incentives for sustainable land management, reduce investment risks and better align public and private investment with land restoration and drought resilience goals through discussions and examining new tools to leverage the existing pledges at the regional and national levels. The conference will illustrate progress on initiatives such as Business4Land, which aims to strengthen private sector engagement and partnerships for land restoration and drought resilience. 

 The Business for Land Forum on 24 August will bring together governments, businesses and investors to accelerate private-sector action and investment in regenerative landscapes. Participating organizations in the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes have already committed more than USD 9 billion across over 210 million hectares, while new policy recommendations aimed at unlocking further investment will be presented at COP17. 

Rangelands take centre stage 

Held during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, COP17 will place one of the world's largest yet most overlooked ecosystems at the centre of international discussions. 

Rangelands cover 54 per cent of the Earth's land surface and support the livelihoods of around two billion people, including approximately 500 million pastoralists who have stewarded them for millennia. Rangelands produce one-sixth of the world's food and provide around 70 per cent of livestock feed. Far more than grazing lands, they are strategic ecosystems that underpin food security, biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods across the world's drylands. Yet up to half of the world's rangelands are already degraded or at risk, with 78 per cent located in drylands where increasing drought, climate change and unsustainable land use are placing growing pressure on ecosystems and communities.  

Governments are expected to consider a new policy framework on rangelands and pastoralists and launch the Rangelands Flagship Initiative, a global partnership designed to increase long-term investment in sustainable rangeland management and strengthen pastoral livelihoods. 

The opening of COP17 also marks the conclusion of the UNCCD Silk Road Caravan, a multi-country journey across Eurasia that brought together governments, scientists, pastoralists, local communities and young people to exchange knowledge and showcase practical approaches to land restoration, sustainable rangeland management and drought resilience. Travelling along the historic Silk Road, the Caravan visited restoration projects and pastoral communities, highlighting practical solutions and the experiences of people restoring degraded land. Its arrival in Mongolia ahead of COP17 symbolically connects local action with the global negotiations beginning in Ulaanbaatar and marks one of the flagship initiatives of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.  

From Riyadh to Ulaanbaatar 

COP17 builds on the outcomes of COP16 in Riyadh and the work undertaken since then to strengthen international cooperation on drought resilience, sustainable land management, financing and private-sector engagement. 

Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, said: “COP16 in Riyadh was a historical turning point in the global awareness and drive for action to address land degradation and drought. The world did not leave Riyadh with more promises—it left with more partners, more investment, and stronger momentum for action. 

We saw the Riyadh Action Agenda, which included 35 initiatives when it was launched at COP16 in Riyadh, has grown to include more than 100 initiatives currently. We witnessed stronger commitment to proactively face drought through the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, and a stronger participation of the private sector through the Business for Land Initiative. 

Through these partnerships, we have built a global coalition that is mobilizing governments, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector to turn ambition into implementation. As we pass the Presidency to Mongolia, we will continue to work with COP17 Presidency and all other partners to maintain and amplify the global momentum that was achieved in COP16 to create a better future.” 

Beyond the drought and rangelands agenda, governments will also consider the Convention's future strategic framework, scientific guidance on agricultural lands and soils, greater participation by Indigenous Peoples, local communities, youth and civil society, stronger cooperation with the biodiversity and climate conventions, and ways to accelerate action under the Convention. 

From negotiations to action 

Alongside the formal negotiations, the COP17 Action Agenda will bring together governments, international partners, financial institutions, businesses, scientists, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, local communities, women and youth to showcase practical solutions, launch new initiatives and forge partnerships that can help scale up action on the ground. 

Four thematic days during the conference's second week will connect negotiations with high-level dialogue and practical action: 

• Finance Day (24 August): Mobilizing public and private investment for land restoration and drought resilience.  
• Water Day (25 August): Strengthening drought resilience and cooperation on the land-water nexus.  
• Land and People Day (26 August): Highlighting the role of pastoralists, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth in restoring and sustainably managing land.  
• Food Systems and Soil Health Day (27 August): Advancing healthy soils and sustainable food systems to strengthen food security and resilient livelihoods.  

The conference's high-level segment will feature ministerial dialogues and special events on drought resilience, sustainable rangelands, financing for land restoration, food systems and soil health, migration and security, sand and dust storms, and private-sector engagement. 

COP17 will also host the first formal convenings of the UNCCD Indigenous Peoples Caucus and the Local Communities Caucus, alongside the Business4Land Forum, Youth Forum and Gender Caucus, creating new opportunities for dialogue and partnership across governments and stakeholders. A Parliamentarians Forum and Mayors Forum will also convene on the sidelines of COP17. 

Several major scientific and policy publications will also be launched during the conference, including: 

• 24 August: The Economics of Rangelands Restoration  

• 25 August: The Drying Planet: Drought in Numbers 2026 

• 26 August: Global Land Outlook for Small Island Developing States  

• 26 August: Global Land Outlook Central Asia Thematic Report  

• 27 August: Soil Health: The Business Case for Investing in Our Foundation  

COP17 will conclude on 28 August, when Parties are expected to adopt decisions that will guide the Convention's work over the coming years and shape the next phase of global action on land restoration and drought resilience. 

Notes to Editors 

For media enquiries and interview requests 

UNCCD Press Office: press [at] unccd.int (press[at]unccd[dot]int) 

Opening press conference 

Date: 17 August 2026 
Time: 13.15 to 14.00 
Location: Press Conference room  

Speakers: 

• H.E. Sandag-Ochir Tsend, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia and Chair of the National Organizing Committee of COP17  
• Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
• H.E. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and President Designate of UNCCD COP17
• Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency

Media resources 

• COP17 programme  
• UNCCD COP17 website   
• Host country website    
• UN WebTV – Live broadcast of key plenary sessions with live interpretation in all six UN languages   

• Audiovisual material will be available for download here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/94683648@N07/albums/ 

• UNCCD COP17 branded materials   
• Earth Negotiations Bulletin (daily coverage, photographs and analysis)   

Follow @UNCCD on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. 

Primary hashtag: #COP17Mongolia 

Additional hashtags: #UNCCDCOP17, #UNited4Land 

About UNCCD    

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 Parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.