Upcoming events

The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be hosted by Mongolia in its capital city, Ulaanbaatar, from 17 to 28 August 2026.  This landmark global event will bring together delegates from 197 Parties, heads of state, ministers, representatives from international organizations, scientific communities, civil society, and the private sector to forge solutions to the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought.  Mongolia, with a vast territory of 1.56 million square kilometers, is experiencing land degradation across approximately 76.9 per cent of its land. Recognizing the critical role of land management in addressing the triple environmental crisis, the country has become a key voice in global efforts to combat desertification and enhance land resilience. Mongolia's ambitious development agendas—particularly its interconnected national movements on environment and agriculture—position the country as a strategic host for COP17 of the UNCCD. COP17 will be convened in alignment with the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), offering a crucial global opportunity to highlight sustainable rangeland management and the needs of more than one billion people who directly depend on these vital ecosystems for their livelihoods. During the two-week conference, participants will engage in a high-level segment that includes ministerial dialogues, along with multi-stakeholder forums and thematic discussions on science–policy integration, innovation, solutions, technology, and financing. The event is expected to foster impactful collaboration and action across sectors, advancing the goals of sustainable land management, ecosystem and land restoration, and the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. Mongolia's strong development and environmental agenda — including the national 'Billions of Trees' movement, the 'White Gold' community-based rural development initiative, and the 'Food Revolution' agri-soil initiative — positions the country as a regional and global model of action. Hosting COP17 will provide a historic opportunity to elevate international cooperation on land, climate, and biodiversity to a new level.  This pivotal conference will mark a significant step forward in uniting the world around solutions to land degradation and climate challenges, solidifying Mongolia’s contribution to building a sustainable and resilient future for all. 

Under the topic "Localizing the SDGs", the tightly-first session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) will open on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the Convention and advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions it takes at its periodic meetings. The COP17 slogan "Taking action for nature" conveys aspirations for an action-oriented conference where the Parties to the CBD will undertake the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The global review is expected to guide accelerated implementation to embrace harmony with nature, transformative change and engagement from a wide range of actors: national governments, civil society, youth, businesses, local governing bodies and communities.

COP 31 will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. In the lead-up, the COP 30 Presidency and the incoming COP 31 Presidency are working together to foster an open, transparent and inclusive process, through regular engagement with Parties and observers throughout the year.Their engagements will bring together ministers, Heads of Delegation and negotiators, as well as observers and stakeholders, to build shared understanding and lay the groundwork for successful outcomes in Antalya.The Presidencies will coordinate closely with the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies to ensure coherence across the UNFCCC process.The incoming COP 31 Presidency and Australia will work in close partnership, in line with the Türkiye-Australia Partnership Modalities. The Presidencies call on Parties to engage in a spirit of unity and shared purpose as they work together to deliver transformative and ambitious outcomes at COP 31 that enhance ambition and implementation of the global response to the threat of climate change.

The Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, aims to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), enhance global water governance and further elevate water-related issues on the international agenda. Participation will include governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector and international financial institutions. More info.