UNCCD COP17 charts path for integrated climate action
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At the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s COP17 in Mongolia, countries struggled to reach consensus on drought resilience, deferring decisions to a future meeting.
The summit, designed for international negotiation on environmental crises, faced familiar challenges as national interests limited progress on key issues. Despite these difficulties, diverse groups formed coalitions and unlocked investment, demonstrating a broader commitment to tackling interconnected problems.
National governments, international organisations, civil society groups, and the private sector collaborated to prioritize rangelands and grasslands, and to transform food and agricultural systems. UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad emphasized the importance of collaboration beyond formal negotiations, highlighting the need to include Indigenous Peoples, local communities, youth, and women in decision-making.
This broader engagement led to the launch of the Rangelands Flagship Initiative, which secured $1.2 billion in funding, the largest investment commitment in UNCCD history, and a $400 million Drought Resilience Investment Facility. A project in Mongolia, implemented by WWF, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, restored over 835,000 hectares of degraded grasslands through rotational grazing and nature-positive agricultural practices.
This work sequestered over 19 million tons of carbon dioxide and informed regional planning with input from local herders. Organisers hope upcoming biodiversity and climate summits will build on these foundations by accelerating funding for similar integrated projects.
