UN Convention to Combat Desertification Talks Held in Ulaanbaatar

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The 17th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) entered its final week in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with high-level ministerial dialogues focusing on land restoration, finance, and drought management. The conference brought together delegates from 197 parties, including UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and government officials from nations such as Nigeria, India, and Kenya. Discussions addressed the interconnected challenges of desertification and land degradation, which UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad characterized as factors contributing to instability, forced displacement, and competition over scarce resources. Nigeria, which reports that 23.41 percent of its land is degraded, participated alongside other African nations to advocate for a legally binding instrument on drought management.

Consequences

Parties aim to finalize decisions and an Action Agenda by the conference's conclusion on August 28, 2025. The adoption of a legally binding instrument on drought management would establish a formal protocol for how participating nations address water and land scarcity moving forward.

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