Press releases

23个国家形成总额13亿美元的土地恢复和抗旱韧性融资组合，其中以草原为重点，45个项目共获得12亿美元融资支持。 在土地退化零增长（LDN）方面取得进展：巴西提出了由17项子目标构成的2030年自愿性土地退化零增长目标，与此同时，中亚地区已有一半的土地退化零增长目标得以实现。 沙特阿拉伯在COP16上发起的“利雅得全球抗旱韧性伙伴关系（The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership）”进一步迈向落实，在乌兰巴托推进建立资金池，以支持约70个脆弱国家。 联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）与卢森堡共同启动“抗旱韧性投资机制（the Drought Resilience Investment Facility）”，以撬动最高4亿美元的公共和私营资本，用于增强抗旱韧性。  蒙古乌兰巴托，2026年8月28日— 经过为期两周，围绕如何应对土地退化、荒漠化和干旱问题展开的谈判，《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP17）今日在蒙古国乌兰巴托闭幕 在谈判进程和行动议程两条主线上，乌兰巴托大会汇聚了推动落实所需的关键要素，包括政治指引、科学依据、资金、具备投资条件的项目、伙伴关系，以及世界各地土地管理者更广泛的参与。 UNCCD 197个缔约方每两年举行一次缔约方大会，本次大会将全球草原置于土地议程的核心位置。草原覆盖地球陆地面积的54%，为约20亿人提供支持，并由约5亿名牧民守护和管理。 在“国际草原与牧民年”期间，“牧场旗舰倡议” 于乌兰巴托启动，汇集了45个项目、总额12亿美元的资金，是《联合国防治荒漠化公约》历史上针对草原领域规模最大的一次资金动员。 除谈判进程外，COP17还推出了一系列旨在加快土地恢复和增强抗旱韧性行动的倡议和资金承诺。 各国政府、开发银行、基金和企业宣布，在五大洲23个国家形成一个总额13亿美元的融资组合，涵盖处于不同发展阶段的项目。其中，6.445亿美元被确认为新增融资，2.164亿美元已经得到确认并正在迈向实施。 UNCCD执行秘书亚斯敏·福阿德表示： “我们来到乌兰巴托时就明确表示，COP17必须成为一次落实行动的缔约方大会。如今即将离开，我们已推动落实所需的架构更加完善：政治决策、更有力的科学支撑、创新融资机制、投资项目储备以及能够推动解决方案扩大规模的伙伴关系，这些都取得了进展。 但乌兰巴托大会的成效不是由会议期间宣布了什么来评判，而将由接下来发生什么来衡量：各国是否能够更好地应对干旱，退化土地和草原是否得到恢复，资金是否真正流向具有可行性的项目，以及土地管理者的生活是否因此发生切实改变。” 蒙古国外交部长、UNCCD COP17主席巴特蒙赫·巴特策策格阁下（H.E. Battsetseg Batmunkh）表示：  “作为东道国以及《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会主席国，蒙古国本着开放、透明、包容和协商一致的精神，为各方讨论营造良好氛围，并努力缩小各方立场差距，以实现切实成果。 在‘国际草原和牧民年’之际，蒙古国向世界展示了草原这一具有重要战略意义的生态系统，如何连接粮食、环境、经济、生物多样性以及牧民生计。 在履行第十七次缔约方大会主席职责过程中，蒙古国始终坚持‘从承诺走向落实，从讨论走向实干’的原则。” 蒙古国环境与气候变化部长、UNCCD COP17国家组委会主席桑达格-奥奇尔·曾德阁下（H.E. Sandag-Ochir Tsend）表示： “蒙古国成功主办《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP17），汇聚世界各国，共同推动荒漠化、土地退化和干旱问题的务实解决方案。对蒙古国而言，本次大会最重要的成果之一，是获得缔约方、国际组织、私营部门和民间社会对‘草原计划（Steppe Plan）’的支持，使其成为COP17的重要政策遗产。 在‘草原计划’框架下，蒙古国政府正式启动三项国际倡议：‘草原旗舰倡议’、‘水—土地纽带倡议’以及‘可持续基础设施自然解决方案倡议’。这些倡议为开发项目、加强国际合作以及在这些重点领域动员投资创造了新的机遇。 尽管COP17今天闭幕，但我们的工作并未就此结束。下一步的重点，是将大会通过的决定、建立的伙伴关系以及投资承诺转化为切实行动，并确保从蒙古草原发起的各项倡议取得可衡量的成果。” 从承诺走向落实 本次大会是在严峻的全球背景下举行的。目前全球多达40%的土地处于退化状态，而各国已承诺到2030年恢复超过10亿公顷土地。如今已有70多个国家制定了国家干旱计划，而2013年这一数字仅为3个。然而，资金和行动落实仍落后于这一挑战的规模和速度。在此背景下，缔约方呼吁进一步动员财政资源、加强能力建设和技术合作，以强化主动型干旱管理，特别是在非洲国家，同时也不能忽视其他受到影响的发展中国家。 乌兰巴托大会期间公布的大量新证据，进一步凸显了不采取行动的代价，以及投资于健康土地所能带来的收益。新报告分别研究了恢复全球草原的经济效益、日益加剧的干旱对人类和经济的影响、小岛屿发展中国家和中亚面临的特殊挑战，以及投资于土壤健康的价值。 研究显示，小岛屿发展中国家共有1880万公顷土地发生退化；与此同时，中亚地区已有超过8000万公顷土地退化，占该地区土地面积的四分之一以上，并已影响2400万人。与此同时，中亚五国均已制定自愿性土地退化零增长目标，其中一半目标已经实现。 这些报告共同表明，土地退化和干旱正在不同地区影响粮食和水安全、生计以及经济，同时也进一步说明了开展预防、可持续土地管理和土地恢复的经济必要性。 在这些新证据的基础上，巴西提出了一项重要的国家承诺，即制定2030年自愿性土地退化零增长（LDN）目标，包含17项与国家政策、规划和项目相衔接的子目标。 该目标包括恢复或修复超过16.3万平方公里土地，其中包括恢复原生植被和发展农林复合经营系统；另有351万平方公里土地将通过保护和可持续土地管理措施得到覆盖，以防止土地退化。17项子目标合计覆盖约367万平方公里土地。 这一承诺将支持巴西通过避免、减少和逆转土地退化，实现可持续发展目标15.3，同时加强粮食和水安全、生物多样性以及气候韧性。 构建全球抗旱韧性新架构 经过持续谈判，缔约方决定在COP18继续相关讨论，在COP16和COP17取得进展的基础上，来推动就各层级主动型干旱管理作出决定。缔约方还决定，干旱问题将在COP18以及此后的每届常会中继续作为独立议程项目。“利雅得全球抗旱韧性伙伴关系（The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership）”于COP16期间建立，并在乌兰巴托进一步迈向落实。其首次伙伴大会推进了拟议资金池的相关工作，该资金池旨在通过能力建设、具备投资条件的项目以及抗旱韧性融资，帮助约70个低收入和中低收入国家。 COP17期间还启动了 “抗旱韧性投资机制（Drought Resilience Investment Facility, DRIF）”，这是全球首个专门致力于抗旱韧性的催化型融资平台。该机制由UNCCD与卢森堡共同创建，并得到“国际抗旱韧性联盟（theInternational Drought Resilience Alliance）”的支持，旨在为水安全、可持续农业、自然解决方案和土地恢复领域的投资，撬动高达4亿美元的公共和私人资本。该机制与全球环境基金建立的首个战略伙伴关系，将探索释放私营和慈善资金的机遇。 “国际干旱韧性观测站（International Drought Resilience Observatory）”第二阶段也推出了全球首个“干旱韧性指数”，为各国提供新的工具，用于评估自身预测、准备和适应干旱的能力，并更有针对性地制定政策和配置投资。 土地融资进一步提升议程地位 COP17还致力于缩小全球土地承诺与落实这些承诺所需资金之间的差距。 预计到2030年，为实现全球土地恢复承诺，每年需要约3550亿美元，而目前每年实际投入约770亿美元，由此形成每年约2780亿美元的融资缺口。私人融资目前仅占全球土地恢复投资的约6%。 各国政府、开发银行、基金和企业宣布，在五大洲23个国家形成一个总额13亿美元、用于土地恢复和抗旱韧性的融资组合，涵盖处于不同发展阶段的项目。其中，6.445亿美元为新增融资，2.164亿美元已经确认并正在迈向实施。该融资组合涵盖草原和景观恢复、抗旱韧性以及地方主导的适应行动。 乌兰巴托的讨论还聚焦于如何解决长期制约土地投资的障碍，包括如何让土地、土壤健康和抗旱韧性在现有自然融资分类体系中得到更加明确和可追踪的体现。与会者还探讨了进一步利用担保、优先损失资本、保险以及项目准备机制，将土地恢复计划转化为具备投资条件的项目。 东道国蒙古国启动了首个国家级“企业促土地（Business 4 Land，B4L）”中心，同时推出可持续金融原则、国家绿色分类目录，并提出到2030年实现绿色贷款占比10%的目标。俄罗斯随后启动了本国B4L中心，卢森堡则推进建立B4L基金会，德国支持成立B4L金融专家组。 草原：从被忽视的生态系统走向经济资产 在联合国“国际草原与牧民年”期间，蒙古国作为东道国，通过COP17特别强调了草原以及管理和守护这些土地的人们的重要作用。缔约方承认牧民是草原生态系统不可或缺的守护者，强调跨地区迁徙的重要性，以及牧民知识和经验的价值。尽管草原具有全球重要性，但其在政策和投资中仍长期被忽视：全球约三分之一的重要生物多样性区域位于草原，而目前仅有24个国家在其国家气候计划中纳入草原，相比之下，将森林纳入国家气候计划的国家达到181个。 乌兰巴托发布的新经济分析估算，草原每年产生价值21万亿至47万亿美元的生态系统服务，最高相当于全球GDP的近一半。这些生态系统服务包括粮食生产、水资源、碳储存和生物多样性等方面的收益。草原恢复通常可以实现每投入1美元获得4至6美元回报；如果将供水等更广泛的公共收益计算在内，回报最高可达到36美元。 COP17宣布的“草原旗舰倡议”旨在将这一经济论证转化为投资行动，汇集支持可持续草原管理、草原恢复和牧民生计的项目。 全球环境基金将通过向UNCCD COP17后续项目投资330万美元，支持该倡议的协调工作。在过去四年中，该基金还批准了50多个项目，总价值超过3亿美元，惠及草原和牧民社区。 土著人民和地方社区在COP17成立新的核心小组 本次大会举行了UNCCD土著人民核心小组和地方社区核心小组的首次正式会议。这是继COP16在利雅得作出决定、建立这两个机制，并在《公约》框架内为其观点和优先事项提供专门参与空间之后取得的重要进展。 COP17还迎来了UNCCD缔约方大会历史上规模最大的土著人民代表参与。“土地与人民日”期间举行的高级别特别活动强调，土著人民既是权利主体、知识持有者，也是行动落实伙伴。活动重点讨论了土著人民知识体系、传统治理、可持续牧业、土地守护，以及土著人民主导行动直接获得融资等问题。 在COP17期间，土著人民、牧民和地方社区呼吁进一步加强土地权利和流动迁徙权，扩大直接获得资金的渠道，确保其有意义地参与决策，并在土地恢复和抗旱韧性行动中认可土著人民和传统知识的价值。 会议还强调了妇女和青年发挥领导作用的重要性，包括呼吁投资青年群体，使其成为土地恢复行动的领导者，并提升他们在土地和干旱行动领域的参与度。 从蒙古走向埃及 下一次《联合国防治荒漠化公约》缔约方大会，即COP18，预计将于2028年在埃及举行，继续推进乌兰巴托大会形成的成果。 展望未来，埃及强调加强合作的重要性，并推动采取整合路径应对土地退化、气候变化和生物多样性丧失，以增强粮食和水安全以及韧性。 COP18将成为各国评估土地恢复和抗旱韧性进展、并在乌兰巴托大会成果基础上进一步推进的重要节点。 编者按 媒体垂询及采访请求： UNCCD 新闻办公室：press@unccd.int COP17 决议可在此查询: https://www.unccd.int/cop17/official-documents 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》  《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）是全球土地的共同愿景与声音。我们联合各国政府、科学家、政策制定者、私营部门和社区，共同推动全球行动，恢复和管理地球土地，以实现人类与地球的可持续发展。UNCCD不仅仅是一份由197个缔约方签署的国际条约，更是减缓当今土地退化影响、推进未来土地治理的多边承诺，旨在为所有人公平和包容地提供食物、水、住所和生计机会。   

The proposed voluntary country-led Rio Synergies Group for Action would help countries translate climate, biodiversity and land priorities into more coherent planning, investment and implementation, while reducing duplication and reporting burdens.Ulaanbaatar, 27 August 2026 – In a push to transform political momentum into practical action, Ministers, current and incoming Rio Convention COP Presidencies, the Executive Secretaries of the three Rio Conventions, international organizations and financial institutions on 26 August at UNCCD COP17 held a High-Level Dialogue on strengthening cooperation across the climate, biodiversity and land degradation issues.The event launched the COP31 Presidency Process, led by Türkiye, towards a proposed Rio Synergies Group for Action. The proposed Action group is intended to support a voluntary, country led implementation by connecting existing national priorities across climate, biodiversity and land with existing partnerships, technical expertise, implementation, knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and financing opportunities.The aim is not to create another parallel structure, but to help countries connect the pieces they already have, national plans, science, projects, finance and partnerships, and make them work together more effectively on the ground.Several countries, including Australia, Ireland, Japan, Maldives and Sierra Leone, and the heads of the UN entities supported the idea, emphasizing the multiple benefits of such a group to countries. A coordinated and integrated approach brings efficiency, cost-savings, reduces the planning and reporting burdens on countries and will help countries to respond practically to environmental challenges that communities experience as multiple, not single crises.It can also help countries identify programmes and investments capable of delivering simultaneously for land restoration, climate resilience, biodiversity and development, rather than financing each agenda in isolation.The High-level Dialogue, “From Ambition to Action: Delivering Rio Convention Synergies across the Triple COP Year,” is the first high-level opportunity during the 2026 Triple COP Year to consider how political momentum for Rio Convention synergies can be translated into practical, country-led implementation.Convened by the Presidencies of UNCCD COP17, incoming CBD COP17 and incoming UNFCCC COP31, the Dialogue underscored the continuity of political leadership across the 2026 Triple COP Year, beginning with UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, continuing in October to COP17 of the Biodiversity Convention under the Presidency of Armenia in Yerevan, and culminating with UNFCCC COP31 in November under the Presidency of Türkiye in Antalya.The process offers interested countries and partners an opportunity to contribute to the co-development of the proposed voluntary, country-led Group, with a view to its formal launch at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya.Speakers explained why stronger synergy among the Convention’s matters now more than ever, proposed some guiding principles for such an Action Group and explained the multiple benefits to be gained through synergy. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, UNCCD Executive Secretary said: “Rio synergies need to deliver in three areas: stronger national policy coherence with less bureaucratic burden for countries, tangible action on the ground and greater engagement of the private sector to mobilize investment. The real test is whether we can connect national priorities to integrated programmes, programmes to finance, and finance to implementation that delivers multiple benefits for people and landscapes. We do not need another layer of process. We need the systems we already have to work together more effectively and at scale”Ms. Fatma Varank, Türkiye Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye, who represented the incoming UNFCCC COP31 Presidency at the Dialogue, emphasized the need for coherence and efficiency in implementing agreements, and the importance of dialogue in building momentum for synergy towards COP31.Synergy, she said, does not equal merging mandates, rather, it achieves greater scale, coherence, efficiency, reduced duplication and yields multiple benefits.Mr. Andrew Berryman, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Australia in Mongolia, representing UNFCCC COP31 Presidency of Negotiations said a voluntary, country-led and practical Rio Synergies Group for Action could strengthen coordination across institutions, including through leveraging existing mechanisms and delivering more with less.Mr. Andranik Grigoryan, Government of Armenia representing the incoming Presidency of CBD COP17, said one of the lessons emerging from the global report reviewing progress in  the implementation of the Kunming Montreal global biodiversity framework is the need for cooperation, integrated and coordinated action among stakeholders. The draft report is currently undergoing peer review and will be launched at CBD COP17.Integrating action among the three Conventions at the national level, he said, can reduce institutional and regulatory burdens and enhance the process, for instance, by sharing science, capacity building on several agendas, and in finance, through shared solutions.Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said the study shows 80 percent of biodiversity delivers for climate, but only 22 percent of climate finance delivers for biodiversity, and that a re-set is needed in how we approach the mandates to help countries to align plans, reduce the reporting burden and avoid leaving people behind.H.E. Mr. Shigeharu Aoyama, Japan’s State Minister of the Environment, said synergy should minimize trade-offs, while maximizing co-benefits, and highlighted the results of an Asia-Pacific synergies report: advancing synergistic solutions to the triple planetary crisis and the SDGs whose more than 104 case studies on synergy demonstrate the benefits of shared knowledge and tangible action on the ground.Citing the same study, Inger Andersen, United Nations Environment Program Executive Director, reported that significant financial savings of up to 24 percent, equivalent to 6.4 billion United States dollars could be achieved by 2050. Synergy would be especially useful in developing plans on the ground and in reporting by the Conventions, she said. H.E. Mr. Timmy Dooley, Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and at the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy, said implementation should be interconnected, particularly with regards to national priorities, implementation partners, and connecting ambition with finance. H.E. Ali Shareef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy of the Republic of Maldives said integration is “not a convenience” but borne of “necessity” for Small Island States (SIDs), and called for a dialogue on synergy that can close the gap SIDs encounter, for instance in indicators that are calibrated individually, and in the case of UNCCD, action that is limited to arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid zones. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, called for alignment between the politics and the realities and practicalities of the Conventions. He urged Parties to be very practical and to reduce the burden of reporting on countries. Supporting the idea of an Action Group, Samed Ağırbaş, Climate High-Level Champion of the COP31 Presidency said there is no need for another parallel system. Rather, implementation that connects solutions is what is needed.H.E. Ms. Ruth Davis OBE, United Kingdom Special Representative for Nature, stressed the need for practical progress – synergistic solutions – because people experience the land, biodiversity and climate change challenges as multiple crises, not as single crisis.The outgoing Presidencies of UNCCD COP16, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and UNFCCC COP30, Brazil, highlighted their past contributions to the Belém process and statement on the Rio Conventions and praised the progress and momentum building up towards COP31 in Türkiye.Türkiye formally endorsed the Belém Joint Statement on the Rio Conventions, becoming the final incoming Rio Convention COP Presidency to join the shared political commitment.Media contact:Wagaki WischnewskiCommunications Officer/UNCCD G20 Global Land InitiativeM: +49 (0)173 268 7593/+976 99207536email: wwischnewski@unccd.int

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 26 August 2026 (UNCCD) - From remote islands to large steppes, land resources are under increasing pressure from poor management, overexploitation and drought exacerbated by climate change, UN experts warn. The Global Land Outlook (GLO) reports on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and on Central Asia, launched today by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), document a serious decline in the health and productivity of land and water resources across more than 50 countries and territories, undermining their long-term sustainable development and in some cases threatening their very survival. More importantly, both reports offer a transformative vision for reversing this decline and boosting the resilience of communities living in these unique geographic contexts.SIDS offer scalable solutions for managing their most precious asset—landComprising 39 states and 18 territories, SIDS are home to around 74 million people in the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as the South China Sea. These diverse nations and territories also boast some of the world’s most extraordinary natural assets, cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge. Some18.8 million hectares of land — equivalent to 16.5% of SIDS’ total land area — is degraded to varying extents, slightly above the global average, intensifying competition over scarce natural resources.The inherent attributes of SIDS — their small size, geographic isolation, tight ecological connectivity and community stewardship — make them ideal incubators of innovation for the implementation of integrated land and water management approaches that account for the close linkages between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. These approaches also have the potential to generate nature-positive, economic development models that can be scaled up from islands to continents.Central Asia, an epicentre of degradation, is halfway towards meeting 2030 land targetsCentral Asia, a region once celebrated for its sweeping steppes and fertile oases, is now one of the world’s epicentres of land degradation. Over 80 million hectares – more than a quarter of the region – are already degraded, affecting nearly 30% of the population – 24 million people living across five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.The GLO Central Asia Thematic Report takes stock of the current situation. “All five Central Asian states have embraced National Voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Targets  under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.3, and half of these targets are already met. This is not a moment of triumph – it is the end of denial. LDN has moved from theory into practice, now embedded in national green economy strategies, agricultural development plans, and climate adaptation policies”, states the report.The countries of Central Asia maintain broad international partnerships, with regional and interregional cooperation, strongly supported by the Convention, serving as an important platform for collaboration with governments, international organizations, development finance institutions, and private-sector investors to advance sustainable land management and strengthen climate resilience. “Despite very different geographies and challenges, both SIDS and Central Asian countries show that vulnerability does not have to mean inevitability. SIDS can become laboratories for integrated land and water solutions that connect ecosystems, communities and development, while Central Asia is demonstrating how land degradation neutrality can move from targets into national policy and practice. The priority now is to accelerate that progress — by investing in land stewardship, strengthening regional and international cooperation, and ensuring that people and ecosystems remain at the centre of development decisions,” says UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad.These two GLO reports were released during the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UNCCD underway in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Representatives of 196 countries and the European Union are gathered for negotiations on future policy directions for land restoration and drought resilience. UNCCD is the first of the three Rio Conventions COPs convening this year, ahead of the biodiversity COP in Armenia in October and the climate COP in Türkiye in November.For more information:UNCCD Press Office: press@unccd.intNotes to EditorsThe full reports can be accessed online at: GLO  Small Island Developing States thematic reportGLO Central Asia thematic reportReports by the numbers:SIDSDespite covering less than 0.5 per cent of the world's total surface area, SIDS are home to over 20% of the world’s biodiversity, with 9.5 times more endemic species richness than mainland areas.18.8 million hectares — or 16.5% of the total land area of all SIDS — were reported as degraded.43% of the total land area of SIDS, were affected by drought, of which 3% experienced severe drought and 6% extreme drought. The total area affected by extreme drought rose by 30% across all SIDS.Over 70% of SIDS face a risk of water shortages, a figure which rises to 91% in low-lying SIDS.An estimated 16.3 million people face severe food insecurity across SIDS, with 11.5 million being undernourished.SIDS receive only around USD 2 billion in public adaptation finance per year — approximately 0.2% of total global climate finance. They will require at least USD 11.7 billion annually for adaptation purposes — nearly six times the current level of funding.Between 2016 and 2023, an average of around USD 487 million per year in development finance to SIDS targeted efforts to combat desertification, land degradation and drought.Central AsiaOver 80 million hectares – more than a quarter of the region, an area approximately four times the size of Kyrgyzstan – are already degraded.Every year, Central Asia loses between USD 2 and 6 billion to land degradation.Central Asia is heating at twice the global average. The glaciers – once the “water towers” of the region – have shrunk by 30% in just fifty years. 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.

The Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), the first global catalytic financing platform aims to mobilize up to USD 400 million in public and private capital for drought resilience.The world's first Drought Resilience Index will provide a new basis for targeting policies and investments to reduce drought risk. COP17 advances work towards a new global pooled fund to help around 70 low- and lower-middle-income countries strengthen drought resilience Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 26 August 2026 --- By 2050, three out of four people worldwide could face drought. Responding to that challenge, the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) marked a significant step towards shifting the global response to drought from crisis management to proactive resilience.A series of announcements and launches at COP17 are strengthening the way countries finance, measure and implement drought resilience. Three distinct initiatives mark this progress: the launch by Luxembourg and UNCCD of the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), a new catalytic finance platform aiming to mobilize up to USD 400 million in public and private capital; progress towards a global pooled fund to support drought resilience in low- and lower-middle-income countries; and the unveiling of the world’s first Drought Resilience Index.Taken together, these initiatives reflect growing recognition that drought can no longer be managed as an isolated environmental challenge. It is a systemic risk requiring stronger governance, investment in preparedness, and coordinated action before its impacts cascade into wider social and economic crises. UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said: "COP17 is about turning commitments into implementation. We now have stronger financing mechanisms, better tools and practical guidance to help countries prepare for drought before it becomes a crisis. The task now is to connect these pieces and put them to work at scale, through governments, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector.” Mobilizing investment in drought resilienceWater Day at COP17 marked the launch of the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), the first global catalytic finance platform dedicated to drought resilience. Co-created by the Government of Luxembourg and the UNCCD, with the support from the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), DRIF is designed to use public and catalytic capital to reduce investment risks and unlock much larger flows of institutional and private finance.  With an ambition to mobilize up to USD 400 million in public and private capital, DRIF will invest in commercially viable projects and businesses that strengthen drought resilience while generating measurable environmental, social and financial returns.Rather than approaching water security, sustainable agriculture, land restoration and nature-based solutions as separate investment themes, DRIF brings them together through a single lens: their contribution to drought resilience.Its ambition also extends beyond the capital mobilized by the Facility itself. DRIF aims to demonstrate that investments in drought resilience can be commercially viable, build a track record for the sector and help establish resilience as an investable proposition capable of attracting much larger flows of private capital over time.Gilles Roth, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg said: “Luxembourg’s EUR 5 million commitment to the Facility reflects a simple idea: public money can help bring much more private investment into areas where it is urgently needed. Together with the UNCCD, we want the Drought Resilience Investment Facility to turn promising ideas into investable projects and help bring them to scale. The aim is to make investment in drought resilience possible where the market alone would not get us there.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg provided an initial contribution of USD 2 million to support the design, structuring and establishment of DRIF.Minister Xavier Bettel said: “As a founding partner of DRIF,  Luxembourg is proud to help advance innovative solutions to drought, one of the most pressing challenges facing vulnerable communities worldwide. By bringing together public and private partners, DRIF will help channel investment towards solutions that reduce vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of communities, economies and ecosystems, while delivering environmental, social and financial returns. This initiative reflects our commitment to building resilience before drought becomes a crisis.” At COP17, the Facility also announced its first strategic partnership with the Global Environment Facility(GEF), with the objective of exploring opportunities to unlock private and philanthropic finance through the GEF’s Blended Finance Program. Expanding finance for countriesAlongside DRIF, work is advancing on a proposed pooled fund under the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP) to help around 70 low- and lower-middle-income countries strengthen drought resilience.The proposed fund would support capacity-building, the development of investment-ready programmes and financing for drought-resilience investments. The Partnership's first Assembly of Partners during COP17 advanced discussions on the Fund and the transition from institutional set-up towards operational delivery.  Saudi Arabia, the RGDRP’s founding donor, pledged USD 150 million to the pooled Fund at COP16.  The Fund will be open to additional contributions from governments and donors, including through grants and official development assistance. It will complement separate financing from development banks and other partners, including USD 2 billion pledged by the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund at COP16.  Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment of Saudi Arabia, said: “Drought resilience is an urgent necessity; every dollar invested in drought preparedness pays off many times over when drought strikes. Saudi Arabia is proud to have established the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership during COP16 as an umbrella for international collaboration to strengthen drought resilience in vulnerable low- and lower-middle-income countries, with voluntary contributions from governments and the private sector. RGDRP will help countries develop and implement drought resilience plans by strengthening partnerships and leveraging innovation, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building.” Assessing drought resilience Another milestone was the unveiling of Phase II of the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO), the first global observatory dedicated to drought resilience.Developed by UNCCD with Yale Center for Ecosystems and Architecture (Yale CEA) and partners under the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the launch marks IDRO's transition from the pilot version unveiled at COP16 to an online platform that can help countries move beyond monitoring drought hazards to strengthening their resilience.   At its core is the world's first Drought Resilience Index (DRI), enabling countries to assess their capacity to anticipate, prepare for and adapt to drought while identifying vulnerabilities and informing more effective policies and investments. New AI-powered features can help policy-makers, technical experts and the public interpret complex data and turn it into practical insights. Featuring eight in-depth country case studies across five continents, the platform is now open for review to users worldwide, whose feedback will help further refine the tool.  Moving forward, the focus will be on working with IDRA member countries to assess how the tool can inform and enhance their decision-making processes. María Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho, Director General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification, which co-chairs IDRA with Senegal, said: “As a Mediterranean country, Spain knows first-hand the economic, social and environmental costs of drought. Our experience has shown us that resilience cannot be built through isolated efforts. That is why Spain has invested in the development of IDRO and the Drought Resilience Index as part of the drive to proactively manage drought risk.” COP17 as an opportunity The initiatives advanced at COP17 address different parts of the same challenge: helping countries anticipate drought, understand where resilience needs to be strengthened, develop investable solutions and mobilize the public and private capital needed to implement them.Speaking at the opening of the Ministerial Dialogue on Drought Resilience, UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said: “We cannot continue to wait for drought to become a crisis before we act. We have the tools, partnerships and financial mechanisms to invest in preparedness, reduce losses and protect people and communities. COP17 must deliver a strong outcome on drought, backed by the means of implementation needed to turn ambition into action at national and local level, where drought resilience is ultimately built.” For Mongolia, the host of COP17, the conference carries particular significance. Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral said: “The biggest change we want to see from COP17 is a shift from words to action, from targets to implementation, and from commitments to measurable results. Let us make drought resilience not only an environmental priority, but a core part of development policy.” For media enquiries UNCCD Press Office: press@unccd.intAbout UNCCD  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land and the only binding global treaty on 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 to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner. About UNCCD COP17 The seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026 under the theme "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope." Bringing together the Convention's 197 Parties, alongside international organizations, financial institutions, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector and civil society, COP17 focuses on accelerating global action on land restoration and drought resilience through stronger finance, partnerships and science. About IDRA About IDRA The International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. As a growing platform of more than 70 countries and institutions, IDRA draws on the collective strengths of its members to advance policies, actions, and capacity-building for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The work of IDRA is aligned with, and supportive of, the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which hosts the IDRA Secretariat. For more information: https://idralliance.global. 

Mongolia launches a national Business4Land Hub and sets a 10 per cent green lending target New finance backs rangelands and drought resilience across 23 countries on five continents Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 24 August 2026 — Governments, development banks, funds and companies meeting at the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) have announced US$1.3 billion in new and pipeline finance for land restoration and drought resilience, spanning commitments in 23 countries across five continents. At the centre of the new finance is a major push on rangelands — an issue of particular importance to host country Mongolia. The Rangelands Flagship Initiative, currently valued at US$1.2 billion across 45 named projects, was launched in Ulaanbaatar during the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026, a designation championed by Mongolia. It is the largest single mobilisation for rangelands in the Convention's history. Of the finance announced at COP17, US$644.5 million is currently identified as new finance, with US$216.4 million already confirmed and moving towards implementation.  Mongolia's domestic finance agenda Mongolia came to COP17 with a series of measures aimed at bringing more domestic finance into land restoration. These include sector-wide sustainable finance principles, a national green taxonomy, and a target of 10 per cent green lending by 2030. Mongolia also launched a national Business4Land (B4L) Hub, bringing the Convention's private-sector platform to the country level for the first time. Russia followed with a hub of its own, while Luxembourg moved to establish a Business4Land Foundation and Germany funded the B4L Finance Expert Group. Rangelands: a flagship that arrived with a portfolio Rangelands cover more than half of the world's land surface and support the livelihoods of around two billion people, including some 500 million pastoralists. Yet up to half of these ecosystems are degraded or at risk, making investment in their restoration critical for food security, livelihoods and drought resilience. The economic case for that investment is significant. Rangelands generate benefits estimated at US$21–47 trillion a year, including through food production, water, carbon storage and biodiversity. Restoring rangelands typically returns US$4–6 for every dollar invested — and, when wider public benefits such as water supply are included, returns can reach as high as US$36 for every dollar invested. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports coordination of the Rangelands Flagship Initiative through a US$3.3 million investment in the UNCCD COP17 Legacy Project. Over the past four years, GEF has also approved more than 50 projects worth over US$300 million supporting sustainable rangeland management and restoration, as well as pastoralist livelihoods.  The Asian Development Bank put US$113 million behind the Green Inclusive Regional Agribusiness Fund, while the Green Climate Fund backed two projects in Botswana and Mongolia and TWENDE in Kenya with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).The Adaptation Fund committed US$9.1 million to locally led adaptation with Indigenous Peoples and local communities across Africa, while the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) backed Forests4Future (US$76 million) and three further programmes across Southern Africa. Peace Parks Foundation and Conservation International brought Herding for Health (US$35 million), while the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) brought the STELARR Investment Hub (US$22 million). Twelve of the projects are delivered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), six with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and three with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) — showing how the UN system and development partners are beginning to converge around a common implementation agenda for rangelands. The significance of the Flagship is therefore not only its financial value. It is the emergence of an investment pipeline around ecosystems that have historically been under-recognized and underinvested, despite their importance to food systems, livelihoodsand resilience. “Land is not simply an environmental issue — it is economic infrastructure. It underpins food, water, jobs and stability, and when land fails, the costs are felt across economies and communities. What we are seeing in Ulaanbaatar is a shift from talking about the financing gap to building the pathways that can move investment into implementation, from stronger project pipelines and de-risking instruments to public-private partnerships. Ultimately, this finance will be judged by whether it reaches the people and landscapes that need it.” — Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD “Rangelands are vital ecosystems, yet they have long been underfunded. Through the new UNCCD COP17 Legacy Project and other projects that are joining the Rangeland Flagship Initiative, the GEF is supporting the implementation of successful rangelands management and restoration at scale by combining our investments with strong partnerships.” — Chizuru Aoki, Head of the Multilateral Environmental Conventions and Funds Division of the Global Environmental Facility Development banks step up — and land moves towards its own investment category The Ministerial Dialogue on innovative financial mechanisms brought together high-level representatives of the World Bank Group, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, GEF and Green Climate Fund to advance finance for land restoration and drought resilience. Country Parties and development banks highlighted the need to make investment in land, soil health and drought resilience more visible and trackable within existing nature finance categories — based on a simple principle: what is measured is more likely to attract investment. There was broad support for scaling guarantees, first-loss capital and index-based insurance. The need is particularly acute in Africa, where only 3 per cent of smallholders have agricultural insurance, compared with 20 per cent elsewhere in the developing world. Participants also backed project preparation facilities to build a pipeline of investment-ready projects, particularly in least developed countries and fragile contexts, and called for simpler access to multilateral funds. Other options discussed included debt-for-nature swaps, nature-performance bonds, sustainability-linked bonds and country platforms. The discussions were backed by concrete financial commitments. At the African Union High-Level Event, the African Development Bank committed US$100 million to the Zambezi River Basin programme, spanning eight countries, alongside the Southern Africa Great Green Wall Accelerator — both confirmed, with board approval pathways already defined. Further finance commitments Luxembourg committed €5 million in catalytic first-loss capital to the Drought Resilience Investment Facility, Spain €5 million to the second phase of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), and Germany a further €11 million to CompensActions. The Korea Forest Service, UNDP and the Global Mechanism opened the Greening Drylands Partnership call for proposals, channeling US$2.4 million in small grants directly to community implementers. Business: from concept to country presence Private sector finance currently accounts for only around 6 per cent of global investment in land restoration. The B4L Hubs launched in Ulaanbaatar aims to help close that gap at national level, complementing global efforts to mobilize private investment. The challenge is not simply to ask businesses to invest more. It is to create the conditions that allow investment to move into land restoration at scale, including stronger project pipelines, credible data, clearer policy signals, and mechanisms that help manage early-stage risk. The launch of national Business4Land Hubs marks an important step in bringing that architecture closer to where investment decisions are made. Mongolia established the first national B4L Hub, followed by Russia, while Luxembourg moved to establish a Business4Land Foundation and Germany supported the B4L Finance Expert Group. Together, these initiatives are designed to connect national priorities, companies, financial institutions, and investment opportunities more directly. “Six per cent is not a rounding error; it is a verdict on how regenerative landscapes have been packaged for investors. Business does not lack appetite for resilient supply chains, secure water and productive soil – it lacks bankable projects, credible data and a fair share of the early risk.  That's why businesses are calling for more coherent policy frameworks, stronger public-private collaboration and investment conditions that enable regenerative landscapes to be scaled. First-loss capital, national Business for Land Hubs and a Business4Land Foundation will start to fix this. This is not charity – it is balance-sheet risk that business has every reason to tackle.” — Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) The investment case Ministers agreed that the scale of the financing challenge cannot be met through grants alone, particularly at a time when official development assistance contracted by 23.1 per cent in 2025 and roughly half of low-income countries are in or at high risk of debt distress. The scale of the gap remains enormous. The UNCCD financial needs assessment estimates that US$355 billion a year is needed through 2030 to meet global land restoration commitments, compared with current investment of US$77 billion — an annual shortfall of US$278 billion. The cost of inaction is estimated at US$878 billion a year, while investing in healthy land could generate benefits of up to US$1.8 trillion annually. Closing that gap will also require governments to look beyond traditional development finance, including through tax relief for restoration, payments for ecosystem services and the repurposing of environmentally harmful subsidies, of which some US$2.4 trillion is public. Separately, the FIELD facility set out an intention to catalyse a further US$2 billion in land restoration finance across Asia and the Pacific. As this is a financing ambition rather than committed funding, it is not included in the totals above. Notes to editors For media enquiries and interview requests UNCCD Press Office: press@unccd.int For more information about the GEF announcement:  New GEF initiative will support UNCCD to strengthen drylands and drought resilience . 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 Visual Assets and Branding Resources   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. 

Rangelands Rising, launched at UNCCD COP17, calls on investors and governments to recognize the world’s largest overlooked landscape and to back the 500 million pastoralists who sustain it Ulaanbaatar, 24 August 2026 — Rangelands cover more than half the planet's land surface, hold a third of its key biodiversity areas and generate benefits worth an estimated US$21–47 trillion a year (up to US$5,000 per hectare). Yet these landscapes remain almost invisible to the people who finance and govern the natural world. A new global report launched today at the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) makes the economic case for investing in rangelands and recognizes the labor and stewardship of the 500 million pastoralists who manage them. Rangelands Rising: Investing in Sustainable Management and Restoration—published by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), GIZ, the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative, UNCCD and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)—overturns a century-old assumption. Mobile livestock herding has long been blamed for driving land degradation. Research increasingly demonstrates that many rangelands have evolved with grazing and that well-managed pastoral systems have created and maintained some of the world's most biodiverse landscapes. Yet that stewardship is under growing strain, as drought intensifies and grazing land is lost to crop expansion, urban encroachment and fragmentation. “For too long, the world has looked at rangelands and seen empty, degraded land, and looked at pastoralists and seen a problem to be fixed,” said Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General, ILRI. “The evidence tells a different story. These are among the most valuable landscapes on Earth, and the people who manage them are their frontline investors.” Far from being the wasteland they are often taken for, rangelands are a mainstay of the food supply, producing high-value animal protein — meat, milk and more — from land that could not support crops without heavy and costly inputs. In Sub-Saharan Africa, pastoralism contributes an estimated 5–10 per cent of national GDP and accounts for 15–40 per cent of the value added in agriculture. But their full worth — in water, carbon, biodiversity and protection against drought — stays invisible to markets. The cost of that neglect is steep. Land degradation drains trillions of dollars a year in lost services, while restoring rangelands typically returns US$4–6 for every dollar invested, and, where public benefits such as water supply are counted, as much as 36 to one. The report's most striking economic finding is a mismatch between who does the work and who captures the value. In Jordan, reviving a traditional practice of resting grazing land returned just US$0.80 for every dollar the herders themselves spent. But the return to Jordanian society as a whole was 18 to one, driven mainly by groundwater recharge. It is a vivid illustration of the report's central argument. Pastoralists are already the primary investors in rangelands, putting in labour, knowledge, livestock and generations of stewardship, yet they cannot capture the value they create for everyone else. Public investment is needed to reward that stewardship and unlock the private capital that follows. “We are not asking for rangelands to be treated as a special case. We are asking for them to be counted. A landscape worth up to US$47 trillion a year cannot remain a blank space on the investment map,” Jonathan Davies, co-author of the report and independent rangelands researcher. For governments, the report also reframes a familiar budget line. Drought response is overwhelmingly reactive, with aid typically arriving well into a crisis, after families have already started to lose their animals. The bill can be enormous: drought relief reached an estimated 7 per cent of national GDP in Niger during the 2021 crisis. Yet, one evaluation cited in the report found that every US$1 spent on timely support is worth an estimated US$3 in later humanitarian spending. The report's central call to funders and finance ministries is to shift from paying for disasters to investing in resilient rangeland management before they strike. The report also guides where money should go, noting that the strongest returns come not from the most degraded land, but from restoring lightly to moderately degraded rangelands. Restoring the latter can cost as little as US$20 per hectare, against more than US$70,000 for severely degraded land. It also cautions against “green” fixes — planting trees on natural grassland, or ploughing drylands for crops — that often damage ecosystems adapted to open grazing. For most drylands, the smartest investment works with the pastoral systems already there rather than replacing them. But money alone is not the answer. The report is clear that financial investment on its own often fails without the conditions that let it work: secure land rights, strong community institutions and inclusive governance. Where tenure is contested or pastoralists are shut out of decisions, restoration funding may go to waste. Where rights are secure and communities lead, it endures. Getting the governance right, the report argues, is as important as the finance itself. “Rangelands are not marginal landscapes. They cover more than half of the world’s land and are fundamental to food security, biodiversity, water security and resilience to drought,” said Dr. Barron Joseph Orr, UNCCD Chief Scientist. “This report shows that investing in rangelands is not simply about restoring degraded land. It is about recognizing the value of these ecosystems and supporting the pastoralists whose knowledge and management have sustained them for generations. As governments gather at UNCCD COP17, the evidence provides a strong case for putting rangelands more firmly into land restoration, drought resilience and investment decisions.” The climate opportunity hiding in plain sight The report makes the case that rangelands’ neglect is the starkest when it comes to climate policy. The word “rangelands” appears in the national climate plans of just 24 countries under the Paris Agreement; “forests” appear in the plans of 181 countries. That blind spot overlooks two climate services rangelands already provide at scale: they are a vast carbon store and they are one of the world's most effective natural defences against drought. Rangelands offer mitigation, adaptation and resilience to climate change from a single investment across more than half the planet's land. Writing rangelands into national climate plans, and directing climate finance towards them, represents one of the largest and most cost-effective opportunities for governments and investors seeking greater climate returns. The report’s launch comes during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia, one of the world's great pastoral nations, where the future of rangelands and the communities who depend on them is a major focus of the conference agenda. The findings bring new economic evidence to COP17 discussions on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable rangeland management. Notes to editors  Read the full report: https://www.ilri.org/rangelands-rising-investing-sustainable-management-and-restorationFunding: This work was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)Interviews with report authors and pastoralist representatives are available before and during the launchMedia contact: Anne-Marie Schryer-Roy, ILRI, a.schryer-roy@cgiar.org 

Fifty lawmakers from Mongolia and around the world are holding a five-day High-level Forum in the margins of UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in a bid to turn global commitments into national action.Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 24 August 2026 – Parliamentarians from around the world are at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) global conference in Mongolia for a High-Level Parliamentary Forum focused on translating global commitments on desertification, land degradation and drought into concrete national action.The High - Level Parliamentary Forum, titled “From Commitment to Action: Parliamentary Leadership to Address Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought,”  is bringing together senior political and UN leaders to examine how parliaments can use legislation, public budgets, government oversight and representation to accelerate implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The Forum, taking place during the Convention’s 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (UNCCD-COP17) is co-organized by the G20 Global Land Initiative of the UNCCD, United Nations Staff Systems College (UNSSC) and the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia.  “Parliaments have the power to turn ambition into action. As we welcome parliamentarians from around the world to Mongolia, this Forum is an opportunity to strengthen the political leadership, legislation and investment needed to protect our lands and the communities that depend on them,” said S. Byambatsogt, Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia.The Forum is part of the Global Changemaker Academy for Parliamentarians (G-CAP), an annual five-day leadership programme organised since 2023 by UNCCD-G20 GLI, in collaboration with UNSSC. This year’s G-CAP brings together 26 parliamentarians from 25 countries for dialogue and learning on land conservation, sustainable land management and restoration.“Global commitments only become real when they are translated into national laws, budgets and accountability,” said Yasmine Fouad, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNCCD. “Parliamentarians are therefore essential to the architecture of implementation, shaping the enabling policies, allocating resources, overseeing delivery and ensuring that the voices of affected communities are reflected in national action.”The high-level discussion will also feature: Carlos Alvarado Quesada, 48th President of Costa Rica; Prof. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt; and parliamentarians from Mongolia and Türkiye. Representatives from the State Great Hural  of Mongolia include Ms. Mandkhai Mendbayar, Chair of the Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture, and Ms. Bolormaa Enkhbat, a G-CAP 2025 alumnus. Ms. Nilhan Ayan, the COP31 Presidency’s Environment and Climate Envoy, will represent Türkiye’s Parliament.Following the high-level conversation, parliamentarians will move into facilitated discussions to identify practical actions they can take within their national mandates, with a focus on legislation, budgeting, oversight and representation.The recommendations will be consolidated into the Key Messages and Parliamentary Priorities for Action from the COP17 High-Level Parliamentary Forum and will inform the development of a Parliamentarians’ Action Toolkit on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, providing practical guidance for lawmakers beyond COP17.The aim is to help turn political commitments into the national policies, budgets and oversight mechanisms needed for implementation at scale.With land degradation increasingly affecting food and water security, biodiversity, climate resilience, livelihoods and economic development, the Forum will highlight the critical role of parliamentarians in ensuring that commitments made at international negotiations result in action on the ground.As countries move from ambition to implementation, parliaments will be central to creating the enabling environment that allows finance, policy and partnerships to deliver measurable results.NOTES TO EDITORSFor more information, please contact Sandhya Balasubrahmanyam, Learning Portfolio Manager, UNSSC (s.bala@unssc.org)About G-CAP The Global Changemaker Academy for Parliamentarians (G-CAP) is an annual five-day leadership academy for selected parliamentarians from around the world, organised by the G20 Global Land Initiative, hosted at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in collaboration with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC). G-CAP equips parliamentarians with the knowledge, networks and practical tools to advance land restoration and sustainable land management through legislation, policy, budgeting and oversight, while fostering dialogue and peer learning among lawmakers across regions. Since its inception in 2023, G-CAP has grown into a global network of 100 parliamentarians from 55 countries.About G20 Global Land Initiative Established by G20 leaders in 2020 and hosted by the UNCCD, the G20 Global Land Initiative was launched with the ambition of achieving a 50% reduction in degraded land across the planet by 2040. The initiative works globally to foster collaboration, strengthen policy coordination, advance the restoration economy, empower grassroots innovators, and secure a sustainable, climate-resilient future for global soil and ecosystems.About UNCCDThe 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 to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.About UNSSC The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is a trusted interagency learning partner of the UN system. Drawing on our established relationships and credibility across various UN mandates and contexts, we collaborate with UN entities to design and deliver learning solutions that address specific needs and support shared objectives. In 2016 the UNSSC opened its “Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development” in Bonn. The Centre was created to equip the UN and its partners with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNSSC Bonn Office delivers not only sustainable development learning but also change management and organizational development, as well as academic partnerships.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 21 August 2026 — About 30 mayors, governors and other local and regional leaders gathered this week at the UNCCD COP17 Mayors' Forum adopted the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, committing to advance local action on sustainable land management and drought resilience, and calling for a stronger, more permanent role for cities and regions in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) process.The Forum, held from 20 to 22 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, was hosted by the Governor's Office of the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar and co-organized by the UNCCD Secretariat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Local2030 Coalition and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), through the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), as key partner. It brought together over 200 participants from more than 30 countries, including local and regional leaders, international organizations, city networks, financial institutions, academic and research bodies, and private sector representatives.At the Forum, the Ulaanbaatar Initiative was also put forward. Led by the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar, this voluntary effort will test a practical way for cities to measure and report on land degradation, with results shared with the Convention by COP18.What the Ulaanbaatar Declaration commits toThe Ulaanbaatar Declaration builds on the commitments made by local and regional governments at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ulaanbaatar carries this process forward, moving from political recognition towards sustained engagement and implementation between COPs.The Declaration, titled Local Leadership for Land Resilience: Advancing Implementation across the Rio Conventions, sets out five calls to action addressed to local and regional governments, UNCCD Parties, the UNCCD Secretariat and their partners:Advance integrated local action on sustainable land management, drought resilience, biodiversity, climate resilience, water security and sustainable urban development, while strengthening urban-rural linkages. These interconnected challenges demand integrated, locally led solutions.Strengthen the role of local and regional governments within the UNCCD process itself, including through more structured and regular engagement between sessions of the Conference of the Parties, building on the Riyadh Process.Strengthen coherence across the three Rio Conventions and the water agenda, encouraging more coordinated implementation at the local level and thereby advancing the 2030 Agenda.Support implementation through partnerships and finance, including calls for more direct, simplified and predictable access to finance for local and regional governments.Promote knowledge, innovation and cooperation, including peer learning and the exchange of practical experience such as nature-based solutions.By transitioning from advocacy to implementation alliances, the Declaration directly turns global commitments into concrete, on-the-ground action to advance SDG 6 worldwide — marking a key milestone on the Local2030 Coalition’s "Road to Abu Dhabi: The Local Way"— a dedicated stakeholder engagement journey to shape global agendas ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference and the 2027 SDG Summit.Signatories commit to advancing local action on sustainable land management, land restoration and drought resilience, deepening cooperation between cities and regions, and promoting inclusive approaches that engage communities, youth, women and Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration also reaffirms the Riyadh Process as the continuing platform for structured dialogue between the UNCCD, its Parties and organized local and regional governments.QuotesB.Purevdagva, Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar: “Land resilience is not an abstract global agenda. It is about whether our cities can provide safe water, clean air, green spaces, secure livelihoods and a healthy future for our children and our communities. Through the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and the Ulaanbaatar Initiative, we are advancing a people-centered, gender-sensitive and child-friendly approach to sustainable urban development, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Ulaanbaatar is proud to help connect local and regional governments across dryland and extreme-climate regions, so that cities can share knowledge, measure land degradation more practically, and turn global commitments into action in our communities. This initiative is our contribution to a stronger regional and global network of cities working together for land, water, climate resilience and future generations.”Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD: “National commitments set the direction, but implementation ultimately happens in cities, regions and communities. Local and regional governments make many decisions that shape how land and water are managed, how communities prepare for drought, extreme heat and other climate-related risks. And how resilient infrastructure and services are delivered. The Ulaanbaatar Declaration is an important step in moving from recognition of their role to sustained engagement and practical action. Their experience, knowledge and proximity to communities are essential if we are to turn global commitments into measurable results on the ground.”Ursula Sautter, Deputy Mayor of Bonn, Germany: "This process started in Bonn in 1999, and it means a great deal to see it reach this point almost thirty years later, with mayors from every region adopting a shared declaration. Bonn will continue to stand behind this work, as a founding partner of this dialogue and as home to the UNCCD Secretariat.”Ji Rimutu, Deputy Mayor of Ordos, China: “Participating in this Mayors' Forum, I deeply feel that local governments are the key implementers in desertification control. Ordos's practice of "holding back the desert with green growth" demonstrates that firm governance commitment and continuous innovative measures can rejuvenate deserts. We look forward to deepening cooperation with all cities, sharing sand-control technologies, jointly shouldering ecological responsibilities, and striving hand in hand to enhance the green well-being of all humanity.”Ingrid Cavalcanti Feitosa, State Secretary for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Action of Sergipe, Brazil: "The impacts of desertification are felt most directly at the local level, which is why subnational governments play a strategic role in developing effective solutions. For Sergipe, supporting the Ulaanbaatar Declaration is an opportunity not only to push for actions on land and drought, but also to share our experience in strengthening protected areas, restoring degraded lands and advancing climate adaptation policies, particularly in the Caatinga — an exclusively Brazilian biome that faces significant challenges related to desertification, many of which are interconnected with those experienced by other territories. Knowledge exchange and international cooperation are essential to strengthening our capacity to respond to a challenge that transcends borders."Oumar Ba, Mayor of Ndiob, President of the Association of Mayors of Senegal, President of UCLG Africa: “Local and regional governments are essential partners in turning global commitments on land restoration and drought resilience into action in our territories. Through UCLG and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, we are bringing our collective experience and priorities into the UNCCD process. Building on the progress achieved in Riyadh, the Ulaanbaatar Mayors’ Forum must further strengthen the recognition and meaningful participation of local and regional governments in global land governance.”Anacláudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director: “Urbanization, land and water are deeply interconnected challenges that require locally led solutions. The New Urban Agenda recognizes the social and ecological functions of land, while the right to adequate housing is at the heart of sustainable development and linked to access to water, public space and basic services. Following the reviews of SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda, the Ulaanbaatar Declaration reinforces our commitment to move from global ambition to implementation. As co-chair of the Local2030 Coalition, UN-Habitat is committed to unlocking more direct and predictable finance for local governments. From Ulaanbaatar to Abu Dhabi, we must turn global commitments into tangible improvements, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.”Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: "Cities are at the heart of sustainable development. They are platforms for advancing innovative solutions and translating ambition into tangible impact. This underscores the importance of empowering local action and strengthening cooperation among cities to address shared challenges. We aspire for the 11th World Water Forum, hosted in Riyadh in 2027, to serve as a global platform for strengthening the role of cities in exchanging experiences that contribute to shaping a more sustainable water future."Building on nearly three decades of city engagementThe Mayors' Forum builds on a process of municipal cooperation on desertification that dates back to the World Forum of Mayors on Cities and Desertification, held in Bonn, Germany, in 1999, and that has since continued through forums in Rome, Italy; Ordos, China; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 2024 Riyadh Mayors' Forum affirmed the essential role of local and regional governments in addressing land degradation, desertification and drought, a role that this year's Forum sought to deepen further.This year represents a historic junction for global policy, converging the World Urban Forum (WUF13), the global review of SDG11, the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, and the three Rio Conventions COPs—with the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi serving as the crucial capstone. Forum participants highlighted this as a rare opportunity to strengthen coherence across the global agendas on land, biodiversity, climate and water, and to ensure local and regional governments are recognized as central actors in delivering on all three. They also emphasized that localization is the ultimate engine for systems change, turning global policy into local impact, building on lessons from a series of major UN gatherings over the past two years: the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain; the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar; and the UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Belém, Brazil.Over three days, the Forum combined high-level policy dialogue with technical exchange and peer-to-peer learning. Sessions addressed urban ecosystem restoration and sand and dust storms, water scarcity and drought resilience, sustainable urban growth and land use, and financing mechanisms to move commitments into implementation.Following the Forum, the UNCCD Secretariat and partners will work together to track voluntary progress on the Declaration's commitments, with findings to be presented at the next Mayors' Forum and at UNCCD COP18.About UlanbaatarUlaanbaatar is the capital city and economic, political and cultural centre of Mongolia, home to nearly half of the country’s population and serving as the main hub for government, business, education, innovation and international cooperation. Located in a high-altitude valley connected to wider rangeland, forest and river ecosystems, the city faces many challenges common to dryland and extreme-climate cities, including air pollution, water security, land degradation, rapid urban growth and climate-related risks. Guided by its long-term development vision, Ulaanbaatar is working to become a more people-centred, gender-sensitive, child-friendly, green and resilient city, while using the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and the Ulaanbaatar Initiative to strengthen global and regional cooperation and contribute practical solutions for sustainable land management, urban resilience and the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals.About UNCCDThe 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.About ICLEIICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (known as ICLEI) is a global network working with more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for zero-emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Our Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.About UCLGUnited Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) is the world’s largest organization of local and regional governments and their associations, representing and advocating for their interests on the global stage. Headquartered in Barcelona and present across all world regions, UCLG brings together cities, metropolitan and regional governments, and national and subnational associations to promote democratic local self-government, strengthen cooperation among territories, and amplify the collective voice of local and regional governments in international decision-making. Through advocacy, policy dialogue, knowledge-sharing and decentralized cooperation, UCLG works to ensure that local and regional governments are recognized as essential partners in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development that leaves no one and no place behind.About Local2030 CoalitionThe Local 2030 Coalition is the United Nations System platform to accelerate the localization of the 2030 Agenda, enhancing coherence, efficiency, and the impact of UN action. 14 UN entities drive the Coalition, co-chaired by UN-Habitat and UNECE, ensuring that the UN system is equipped to articulate global goals and national policies with local contexts, needs, and priorities, while securing a single and powerful UN approach to localization.About UN-HabitatUN-Habitat is the United Nations entity responsible for sustainable urbanization. It has programmes in over 90 countries supporting policymakers and communities to create socially and environmentally sustainable cities and towns. UN-Habitat promotes transformative change in cities through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance, and collaborative action. To know more, visit unhabitat.org or follow us on social media @UNHABITAT.Media contact:Matteo Bizzotto, Senior Officer, Global Communications, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. matteo.bizzotto@iclei.org

鉴于土地退化、干旱和水资源短缺日益威胁粮食安全、生计与稳定，《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP17）将把健康的土地置于人类福祉与繁荣的核心。 来自197个《公约》缔约方、国际组织、金融机构、企业和土地管理者的代表预计将于8月17日至28日齐聚乌兰巴托。 调动公共和私人投资以加速土地恢复和抗旱能力，将是COP17的核心优先事项之一。 各国政府还将推动抗旱能力、牧场、可持续农业与土壤以及私营部门参与等议题做出决定。 蒙古乌兰巴托，2026年8月17日——来自196个国家及欧盟的代表今日齐聚乌兰巴托，出席《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP17）的开幕式。 在未来两周内，各国政府、金融机构、企业、科学家和民间社会将共同努力，推进切实可行的解决方案，缔结新的伙伴关系，并为土地恢复和抗旱能力调动投资。同时，各缔约方将就干旱、牧场、农田与土壤、资源调动、私营部门参与以及《公约》未来战略方向等议题进行谈判。 在各国面临土地退化、水资源短缺和气候变化日益严峻的压力之际，预计UNCCD COP17上通过的决定、发起的伙伴关系和倡议，将在未来几年加强在可持续土地管理、土地恢复和抗旱能力方面的国际合作。 据估计，土地退化和干旱每年给全球经济造成近9000亿美元的损失，并已影响到全球高达40%的土地和32亿人口。自2000年以来，干旱发生率增加了近三分之一，现在每年至少造成3000亿美元的损失。 在生物多样性和气候变化大会之前召开的UNCCD COP17,是2026年三大“里约公约”首次召开的缔约方大会。COP17为加强里约公约间的合作，并加速在土地退化、生物多样性丧失、气候变化、粮食和水安全以及水资源韧性方面采取切实行动提供了契机。 蒙古国总理尼·乌其尔勒(H.E. N. Uchral)阁下表示： “我们希望COP17带来的最大改变，是从对话走向行动，从目标走向落实，从承诺走向可衡量的成果。因此，蒙古国呼吁本次会议取得切实进展。 第一，让我们将土地、气候和生物多样性视为相互关联的挑战，而非彼此孤立的问题。 第二，让我们加大对土地恢复的投资，将各国政府、国际金融机构和私营部门之间的合作提升到新的水平。第三，让我们不仅将抗旱能力视为环境政策议题，更将其作为发展政策的核心组成部分。 第四，让我们将草原使用者、牧民和地方社区的知识与参与置于全球土地管理政策的中心位置。第五，让我们将科学、技术和创新转化为切实可行的解决方案和真正的投资。 第六，让我们共同努力，创造条件，将承诺转化为可衡量的成果。” 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》执行秘书亚斯敏·福阿德（Yasmine Fouad）表示： “土地退化和干旱已不再是遥远的环境问题。它们正在影响我们生产的粮食、依赖的水资源、经济的韧性以及社区建设安全未来的能力。健康的土地是健康粮食系统、有韧性的经济和稳定社会的基础。 因此，COP17必须重在落实。世界不缺解决方案，挑战在于如何大规模推广。乌兰巴托必须调动必要的政治领导力、投资和伙伴关系，从承诺走向可衡量的实际成果。恢复土地不仅仅是一项环境义务——它是对人类、稳定性和韧性的投资。 在多边主义面临考验之际，COP17也是一个展示各国能够携手提供改善民生的切实解决方案的机会。我们衡量成功的标准，将不仅仅是我们通过的决定，更是这些决定为全球社区、经济和环境带来的改变，以及我们将土地纳入新发展领域以预防其未来退化的能力。” 蒙古外交部长、UNCCD COP17主席巴特策策格·巴特蒙赫阁下（H.E.Battsetseg Batmunkh）表示：“对蒙古而言，土地与我们的民族、生计和未来密不可分。作为一个牧业仍居于社会核心地位，且土地退化、干旱和白灾（dzud）已对社区造成日益沉重压力的国家，我们深知土地的健康直接关系到人民的生活。 主办COP17既是一项责任，也是一个机遇，以将旱地国家和牧民社区的经验置于全球讨论的中心。蒙古将与所有缔约方共同努力，在各国相聚乌兰巴托之际，为更健康的土地、更有韧性的草原以及依赖这些资源的民众创造更安全的未来，而寻找切实的解决方案。” 蒙古环境与气候变化部长、UNCCD COP17全国组织委员会主席曾德·桑达格-奥奇尔阁下（H.E. Sandag-Ochir Tsend）表示： “蒙古已完成主办UNCCD COP17的各项准备工作，并随时准备欢迎来自世界各地的代表和嘉宾。 荒漠化、土地退化和气候变化是相互关联的全球性挑战，不仅对环境，而且对粮食安全、经济稳定和生计都有深远影响。因此，COP17将为加强国际合作和推进切实解决方案提供一个重要平台。 作为东道国，蒙古将推动建设性、基于共识的对话，并努力确保所有缔约方和利益相关方的包容性参与。 COP17的成果必须超越谈判决定，转化为具体的行动、更多的投资和更强有力的伙伴关系，以遏制和扭转土地退化，保护草原和土壤，恢复退化土地并防治荒漠化。实现这一目标需要各国政府、私营部门、国际组织和金融机构的积极参与。 我相信COP17将成为加强国际合作、加速全球应对荒漠化、土地退化和干旱行动的重要一步。” 对蒙古而言，这些问题关乎日常生活。该国近77%的土地已退化，而牧业支撑着全国三分之一人口的生计。2023年和2024年，夏季严重干旱后，冬季又接连发生破坏性的白灾（dzud），这导致超过700万头牲畜死亡，凸显了旱地社区日益加剧的脆弱性以及加强韧性的紧迫性。 加强抗旱能力 在利雅得UNCCD第十六次缔约方大会（COP16）取得成果的基础上，各国政府将在COP17上继续就全球抗旱政策框架进行讨论，同时加强帮助各国将抗旱计划付诸行动所需的实用工具、伙伴关系和融资机制。各缔约方将讨论加强防备、预警系统、脆弱性评估和国际合作的措施。 目前已有超过70个国家制定了国家抗旱计划，而2013年仅有3个国家，这反映出各国日益认识到必须主动管理干旱风险，而非仅在干旱成为人道主义和经济危机时才采取应对措施。  在抗旱能力方面每投资一美元，可产生高达10美元的回报，而一些基于自然的解决方案的收益可达其成本的27倍。 COP17还将推出帮助各国加强抗旱准备和韧性的新工具与伙伴关系，包括与利雅得全球抗旱伙伴关系、抗旱韧性投资机制、国际抗旱观测以及其他相关计划和项目有关的公告。 缩小数十亿资金缺口 为土地恢复和抗旱能力调动更多公共和私人投资，将是COP17的核心优先事项之一。 据估计，每年需要3550亿美元来应对土地退化和干旱，但目前投资仅为约770亿美元，每年仍有2780亿美元的融资缺口。 尽管私营部门严重依赖健康的土地和可靠的水源供应，但其目前仅提供全球土地恢复和抗旱韧性融资的约6%。仅靠公共资源难以填补这一缺口，这凸显了加强政府、开发银行、企业和投资者之间合作的必要性。 COP17将探讨如何解锁新的资金来源，加强对可持续土地管理的激励措施，降低投资风险，并通过讨论和审视利用区域和国家层面现有承诺的新工具，更好地将公共和私人投资与土地恢复和抗旱目标结合起来。会议将展示 “商业促土地（Business4Land）”等倡议的进展，该倡议旨在加强私营部门参与和伙伴关系，以促进土地恢复和抗旱能力。 8月24日的“商业促土地论坛”（ Business for Land Forum）将汇聚各国政府、企业和投资者，加速私营部门在恢复环境方面的行动和投资。参与“恢复环境行动议程”的组织已承诺在超过2.1亿公顷的土地上投入超过90亿美元，同时将在COP17上提出进一步解锁投资的新政策建议。 草原成为焦点 在“国际草原与牧民年”期间举行的COP17，将把世界上这最大但最被忽视的生态系统之一置于国际讨论的中心。 草原覆盖地球陆地表面的54%，支撑着约20亿人的生计，其中包括约5亿世代守护牧场的牧民。牧场生产了世界六分之一的食物，并提供了约70%的牲畜饲料。它们远不止是放牧地，更是支撑全球旱地粮食安全、生物多样性、气候韧性和生计的战略性生态系统。然而，全球多达一半的牧场已经退化或面临退化风险，其中78%位于旱地，那里日益加剧的干旱、气候变化和不可持续的土地利用正给生态系统和社区带来越来越大的压力。 各国政府预计将审议一项关于草原和牧民的新政策框架，并发起“草原旗舰倡议”，这是一个旨在增加对可持续牧场管理长期投资并加强牧民生计的全球伙伴关系。 COP17的开幕也标志着UNCCD“丝路之旅（Silk Road Caravan）”活动的结束。这是一次穿越欧亚大陆的多国旅程，汇集了政府、科学家、牧民、当地社区和青年，交流知识并展示土地恢复、可持续牧场管理和抗旱能力方面的实用方法。沿着历史悠久的丝绸之路，“丝路之旅”访问了恢复项目和牧民社区，展示了切实可行的解决方案以及人们恢复退化土地的经验。其在COP17前抵达蒙古，象征着将地方行动与在乌兰巴托启动的全球谈判联系起来，“丝路之旅”也是“国际草原与牧民年”的旗舰倡议之一。 从利雅得到乌兰巴托 COP17建立在 COP16 于利雅得取得的成果上，这包括了加强国际合作以促进抗旱能力建设、可持续土地管理、融资和私营部门参与等。 沙特阿拉伯王国环境、水和农业部副部长、UNCCD COP16主席顾问奥萨马·法基哈（Osama Faqeeha）表示： “在利雅得举行的COP16是全球应对土地退化和干旱的认知和行动的历史性转折点。世界离开利雅得时带走的不是更多的承诺——而是更多的伙伴、更多的投资和更强的行动势头。 我们看到，在利雅得COP16上启动时包含了35项倡议的‘利雅得行动议程’，目前已发展到包含100多项倡议。我们见证了通过‘利雅得全球抗旱伙伴关系’更坚定地主动应对干旱的承诺，以及通过‘商业促土地（Business for Land）’倡议实现的私营部门更广泛的参与。 通过这些伙伴关系，我们建立了一个全球联盟，动员政府、金融机构、民间社会和私营部门将雄心转化为行动。在我们向蒙古移交主席国之际，我们将继续与COP17主席国和所有其他伙伴合作，维护和扩大在COP16上取得的全球势头，共创更美好的未来。” 除干旱和草原议程外，各国政府还将审议《公约》未来的战略框架、关于农田和土壤的科学指导、增强土著人民、地方社区、青年和民间社会的参与、加强与生物多样性和气候公约的合作，以及加速《公约》下行动的方式。 从谈判到行动 与正式谈判并行，COP17行动议程将汇集各国政府、国际伙伴、金融机构、企业、科学家、民间社会组织、土著人民、牧民、当地社区、妇女和青年，展示切实解决方案，发起新倡议并缔结伙伴关系，以助扩大实地行动规模 会议第二周的四个主题日将把谈判与高级别对话和实际行动联系起来： 金融日（8月24日）：为土地恢复和抗旱能力调动公共和私人投资； 水日（8月25日）：加强抗旱能力及土地-水纽带关系合作； 土地与人日（8月26日）：强调牧民、土著人民、当地社区、妇女和青年在恢复和可持续管理土地中的作用； 粮食系统与土壤健康日（8月27日）：推进健康的土壤和可持续的粮食系统，以加强粮食安全和有韧性的生计。 大会的高级别会议部分将包括关于抗旱能力、可持续草原、土地恢复融资、粮食系统与土壤健康、移民与安全、沙尘暴以及私营部门参与的部长级对话和特别活动。 COP17还将主办UNCCD土著人民核心小组和地方社区核心小组的首次正式会议，以及“商业促土地论坛（Business4Land Forum）”、青年论坛和性别核心小组会议，为政府和利益相关者之间的对话与伙伴关系创造新机遇。议员论坛和市长论坛也将在COP17期间举行。 会议期间还将发布若干重要科学和政策出版物，包括： 8月24日：草原恢复经济学（The Economics of Rangelands Restoration） 8月25日：干渴星球：2026年干旱数据（The Drying Planet: Drought in Numbers 2026） 8月26日：全球土地展望-小岛屿发展中国家报告（Global Land Outlook for Small Island Developing States） 8月26日：全球土地展望-中亚专题报告（Global Land Outlook Central Asia Thematic Report） 8月27日：土壤健康：投资于我们根基的商业案例（Soil Health: The Business Case for Investing in Our Foundation） COP17将于8月28日闭幕，届时各缔约方预计将通过一系列决定，为《公约》未来数年的工作提供指导，并塑造下一阶段全球土地恢复和抗旱能力行动。 -完- 编者按 媒体垂询和采访请求 UNCCD 新闻办公室: press@unccd.int 开幕新闻发布会 日期：2026年8月17日 时间：13:15-14:00 地点：新闻发布会厅 发言人： 曾德·桑达格-奥奇尔阁下（H.E. Sandag-Ochir Tsend），蒙古环境与气候变化部长、COP17全国组织委员会主席； 亚斯敏·福阿德博士（Dr. Yasmine Fouad），《联合国防治荒漠化公约》执行秘书； 巴特策策格·巴特蒙赫阁下（H.E. Battsetseg Batmunkh），蒙古外交部长、UNCCD COP17候任主席； 奥萨马·法基哈博士（Dr. Osama Faqeeha），沙特阿拉伯王国环境、水和农业部副部长、UNCCD COP16主席顾问。 媒体资源 COP17 议程 UNCCD COP17 网站 东道国网站 UN WebTV——主要全体会议直播，提供所有六种联合国语言同声传译  UNCCD COP17 视觉资产和品牌资源 《地球谈判公报》（每日报道、照片和分析） 关注UNCCD：X、Instagram、LinkedIn 和 Facebook。 主要话题标签：#COP17Mongolia 其他话题标签：#UNCCDCOP17, #UNited4Land 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》  《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）是全球土地的共同愿景与声音。我们联合各国政府、科学家、政策制定者、私营部门和社区，共同推动全球行动，恢复和管理地球土地，以实现人类与地球的可持续发展。UNCCD不仅仅是一份由197个缔约方签署的国际条约，更是减缓当今土地退化影响、推进未来土地治理的多边承诺，旨在为所有人公平和包容地提供食物、水、住所和生计机会。  

乌兰巴托/蒙古，2026年8月7日——聚焦草原和牧民群体的全球倡议“丝路之旅”（Silk Road Caravan）今日开启蒙古段旅程，此时距联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）第十七次缔约方大会（COP17）于8月17日在蒙古乌兰巴托开幕仅余数日。 数千年来，蒙古草原见证了欧亚大陆上人类、商品和思想的迁徙和流动。作为蒙古最重要的历史景观之一，鄂尔浑河谷曾是多个游牧帝国的政治和文化中心，而一代又一代牧民也在这里发展出定义蒙古现代社会的生活方式。 今年8月，这一历史篇章仍在继续。在UNCCD COP17召开前夕，UNCCD “丝路之旅” 在欧亚大陆穿越超过6000公里后抵达蒙古。一路上，倡议汇聚了牧民、科学家、政策制定者、青年和当地社区，共同分享恢复草原、增强抗旱韧性相关的经验与务实解决方案。 “丝路之旅”由UNCCD发起，旨在支持2026国际草原与牧民年（International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, IYRP 2026）。该倡议秉承历史丝绸之路连接亚洲与欧洲的精神。自5月从土耳其启程以来，“丝路之旅”已途经俄罗斯联邦、乌兹别克斯坦、哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦和中国，考察土地恢复项目并与沿途社区开展交流。这一旅程展示了各方通过共同努力和合作，推动退化土地恢复的可能性。 UNCCD执行秘书亚斯敏·福阿德博士（Dr. Yasmine Fouad）表示：“在‘丝路之旅’的整个过程中，我们见证了各国和社区如何管理和恢复与其身份认同、文化、经济及生活方式密不可分的草原。沿途的每一站都印证了一个朴素的真理：人是恢复工作的核心。这些经历提醒我们，土地恢复没有放之四海而皆准的模式。当我们齐聚蒙古参加COP17，我们的责任是将这些地方经验转化为全球行动，加强国际合作，并投资于世世代代守护着这些土地的人们。” 蒙古国环境与气候变化部部长桑达格·奥其尔先生阁下（Ts. Sandag-Ochir）表示：“土地退化、荒漠化与气候变化不分国界。这些共同挑战，亟需共同应对之策。 ‘丝路之旅’在汇聚沿线各国经验、本土方案与民众心声之后，抵达蒙古。尤为意味深长的是： ‘丝路之旅’的终点，恰逢《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP17）的起点。我们的目标，是将沿途所收集的经验与教训，携至乌兰巴托，并转化为切实承诺、更强合作与可落地的务实方案。” 蒙古食品、农牧业与轻工业部部长查·伊德尔巴特（Tsagaankhuu Iderbat）表示：“蒙古拥有悠久的游牧传统，并与广袤的草原有着深厚的联系，这些草原塑造了我们世代的游牧文化。为了提升全球对草原和牧民的重要性的认识，蒙古率先发起了相关提案，并最终推动联合国大会宣布2026年为‘国际草原与牧民年’，我们因此而感到自豪。‘丝路之旅’抵达蒙古以及随后举行的UNCCD COP17，为吸引全球关注草原、土地退化和气候变化问题提供了独特契机。这也提醒我们，牧民在与自然和谐共处中世代积累的知识和经验，至今仍是我们所需解决方案中不可或缺的一部分。” 草原覆盖地球陆地表面的54%，支撑着约20亿人口的生计，提供全球近70%的牲畜饲料，并储存着大量碳。然而，目前已有多达一半的草原退化，这使得生物多样性、粮食生产和农村生计面临风险。“丝路之旅”沿途收集的经验将被带到COP17，届时各国将共同探讨恢复和保护草原的下一步行动。 在蒙古，草原是牧民生活的基础。草原约占蒙古国土面积的70%，支撑着约三分之一人口的生计，并构成全球规模最大的游牧景观之一。 然而，这些土地正面临日益严峻的压力。蒙古约77%的土地受到退化影响。干旱发生频率不断增加，而沙尘暴发生天数较20世纪60年代以来已增加超过三倍。2023年至2024年，夏季干旱与随后发生的严酷冬季灾害（蒙古语称“白灾”，dzud）叠加，导致超过700万头牲畜死亡。这场灾害凸显了牧民社区在面对干旱和极端气候事件时的脆弱性。 “绿金”蒙古草原研究中心畜牧育种专家、参与了“丝路之旅”的阿维梅德·冈奥其尔（Avirmed Gan-Ochir）表示：“作为在蒙古草原长大的人，能够穿越乌兹别克斯坦和哈萨克斯坦，见到那些生活与我如此不同却又如此相似的牧民，这令我深受鼓舞。每个社区都教会了我们新的东西，无论是他们如何适应气候变化，还是如何传承代代沿袭的传统。我为‘丝路之旅’此刻抵达蒙古感到自豪，并欢迎各界人士到访我国，分享我们自身的经验，并在COP17召开前继续这一知识交流。” 蒙古文化、体育、旅游与青年部长阿尔达尔扎夫赫兰 · 卓尔登·（Aldarjavkhlan Jukov）表示：“数个世纪以来，丝绸之路连接了各国、各民族与各文明。随着‘丝路之旅’抵达蒙古，它为分享我们的游牧文化、传统以及与自然和谐共处的悠久传承提供了机遇。蒙古主办‘丝路之旅’的收官阶段，并欢迎世界参加UNCCD COP17，在我们的文化遗产与当今全球性挑战（包括土地退化、荒漠化和生态系统恢复）之间建立了有意义的联结，这是一个从历史智慧中汲取养分，同时携手迈向更可持续未来的良机。” 蒙古面临的挑战也是许多旱地国家共同面对的问题。8月17日至28日，COP17将在乌兰巴托汇聚各国政府、科学家、原住民群体、牧民、民间社会组织、企业和国际组织，共同探讨土地恢复、干旱治理和可持续草原管理的务实解决方案。 作为今年三大《里约公约》首次召开的缔约方大会（COP），UNCCD COP17有望推动形成全球土地议程。2026年正值国际草原与牧民年（International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists），UNCCD COP17也将进一步凸显草原在保障粮食安全、保护生物多样性、增强气候韧性以及支持农村生计方面发挥的重要作用。 “丝路之旅”参与者将在蒙古开展为期一周的考察，从戈壁沙漠一路前往该国中部的森林和草原地区。他们将与牧民家庭、研究人员、地方政府和牧业合作社开展交流，并参观土地恢复项目。 此次行程将途经呼斯泰国家公园、联合国教科文组织世界遗产——鄂尔浑河谷文化景观、列入《湿地公约》名录的乌吉湖，以及迷你那达慕（Mini Naadam）节庆活动。参与者将亲身了解蒙古草原地区民众如何应对土地退化和干旱挑战，并将在抵达乌兰巴托参加COP17之前，参与2026国际草原与牧民年的相关纪念活动。 -完-  编者注 媒体机会 在“丝路之旅”蒙古段行程期间，获得认证的媒体将有机会： 参观戈壁沙漠和蒙古中部地区的土地恢复项目； 走访牧民家庭和牧业合作社； 了解以社区为基础的草原恢复实践和可持续放牧方式； 参观呼斯泰国家公园、联合国教科文组织世界遗产——鄂尔浑河谷文化景观，以及列入《湿地公约》名录的乌吉湖； 采访国际“丝路之旅”参与者、蒙古专家和UNCCD代表； 报道“丝路之旅”在UNCCD COP17开幕前的收官活动。  媒体注册 目前，报道UNCCD COP17的媒体代表注册通道已经开放。鼓励记者通过联合国在线注册系统（Online Registration System, ORS）提交申请。该系统是媒体认证的官方平台。 媒体相关更多信息请访问COP17媒体页面。  关注COP17 关注@UNCCD官方账号，获取COP17最新动态：X、Instagram、LinkedIn和Facebook。 官方话题标签 #COP17Mongolia 其他话题标签 #UNCCDCOP17 | #RestoringLandRestoringHope | #UNited4Land | #HerLand | #Sport4Land | #Youth4Land资源 媒体资料包； UNCCD COP17官方网站； COP17主办国网站； 联合国网络电视（UN WebTV），将现场直播主要全体会议，并提供联合国六种官方语言实时口译； UNCCD COP17视觉素材及品牌资源； 地球谈判公报（Earth Negotiations Bulletin），提供每日报道、照片及分析。 关于“丝路之旅” 几个世纪以来，沿丝绸之路往来的商队不仅运送着商品，也促进了不同文明之间思想、文化和知识的交流。“丝路之旅”旨在重现这一连接精神，分享那些致力于恢复土地、保护生态系统以及维系牧业生活方式的人们的故事。这些地区的文化、土地与气候相互交织，形成了独特而紧密的联系。“丝路之旅”是UNCCD旗舰倡议之一，旨在连接2024年利雅得COP16和2026年乌兰巴托COP17，并支持2026国际草原与牧民年。从阿拉伯半岛的沙漠到欧亚大陆广袤的草原，这场兼具象征意义和实地行动的“丝路之旅”，聚焦草原生态系统以及世世代代塑造沿线地区生活方式的牧民社区。该倡议旨在提升国际社会对草原关键作用的认识。草原覆盖地球超过一半的陆地表面，支撑着全球20亿人口的生计。通过实地考察、故事分享和纪录片制作等方式，该倡议将展现土地退化带来的挑战，以及当地社区摸索出的解决方案。 更多关于“丝路之旅”的信息请访问silkroadcaravan.org 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》  《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）是全球土地的共同愿景与声音。我们联合各国政府、科学家、政策制定者、私营部门和社区，共同推动全球行动，恢复和管理地球土地，以实现人类与地球的可持续发展。UNCCD不仅仅是一份由197个缔约方签署的国际条约，更是减缓当今土地退化影响、推进未来土地治理的多边承诺，旨在为所有人公平和包容地提供食物、水、住所和经济机会。