The Executive Secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Yasmine Fouad, has called for urgent and large-scale action to translate global commitments on land restoration into concrete results during UNCCD COP17 scheduled to take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 28 August 2026.
She said that over the past decade, countries have committed to restoring one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, with more than 70 nations already having national drought plans in place. “COP17 is our opportunity to turn these commitments into real change on the ground,” Fouad said, stressing the need to mobilize finance at scale for land restoration and drought resilience.
Fouad emphasized that investing in preparedness rather than crisis response is essential, noting that rangelands must be recognized as vital assets for economies, cultures and climate. “Healthy land underpins food security, water availability, economic resilience and stability everywhere — and the time to act is now,” she added.
She explained that the thematic days and action agenda of COP17 are designed to connect political decisions with practical solutions, ensuring that commitments made at the global level lead to measurable progress on the ground.
Mongolia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Batbaatar Bat, also underscored the importance of collective action, describing the Riyadh–Ulaanbaatar Action Agenda as a strategic and participatory framework. “It mobilizes citizens, businesses, cities and all stakeholders to restore critical ecosystems, including rangelands and agricultural lands,” he said.
The minister added that the framework is aimed at driving investment in the land–water nexus while strengthening drought resilience. “We call on leaders from all sectors to join us at COP17 to accelerate solutions for resilient economies and societies,” he stated.
COP17 is expected to bring together delegates from 197 Parties, alongside scientists, businesses, civil society and local communities, with a focus on advancing solutions that restore land, strengthen drought resilience and safeguard ecosystems that support livelihoods worldwide.
