The upcoming seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Mongolia has seen the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) unveil an ambitious thematic agenda aimed at accelerating global action on land restoration and drought resilience.
The conference, themed “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” is set to take place in Ulaanbaatar from 17 to 28 August 2026, bringing together delegates from 197 Parties alongside scientists, policymakers, businesses, and land stewards.
According to the agenda, the gathering is expected to position land health at the center of global resilience, linking ecosystems to economic stability, food security, and climate adaptation.
As the first of the three Rio Conventions COPs in 2026, COP17 is widely seen as a tone-setter for subsequent global negotiations on biodiversity and climate. The outcomes in Ulaanbaatar are expected to influence broader environmental governance efforts throughout the year and beyond.
At the core of COP17 is a renewed push to translate long-standing global commitments into measurable outcomes. Over the past decade, countries have pledged to restore one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, while more than 70 nations have developed national drought plans. However, progress has remained uneven, constrained largely by financing gaps and limited implementation capacity.
Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, emphasized the urgency of scaling up action as land degradation continues to threaten food systems, water availability, and economic resilience globally.
She pointed out the need to mobilize finance at scale, shift investments toward drought preparedness, and recognize the economic and cultural value of rangelands, revealing that the UNCCD maintains that healthy land is a foundation for stability and prosperity.
For the host country, Mongolia, the conference also presents an opportunity to advance a more inclusive and participatory approach to land restoration.
As noted by Batbaatar Bat, Mongolia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Riyadh–Ulaanbaatar Action Agenda is a framework designed to engage governments, businesses, cities, and communities in restoring critical ecosystems, particularly rangelands and agricultural lands.
COP17 Agenda of Financing the Restoration Gap
One of the most pressing challenges on the COP17 agenda is financing, hence a core part of the agenda for the convening. Restoring land at scale is estimated to require around one billion US dollars per day, far exceeding current global investment levels.
Finance Day, scheduled for 24 August, will bring together finance ministers, development banks, and private sector actors to explore pathways for closing this gap. The focus will be on unlocking large-scale investment and integrating land restoration into broader economic and development planning.
The emphasis on finance reflects growing recognition that without adequate funding, global restoration targets will remain out of reach.
“COP17 is our opportunity to turn these commitments into real change on the ground. That means mobilizing finance at scale for land restoration and drought resilience, investing in preparedness rather than costly crisis response,” said Fouad.
Rising Drought Risks and Water Stress
Water security will also feature prominently, with projections indicating that by 2050, three out of four people worldwide could face drought conditions. Water Day on 25 August will center on proactive drought risk management and improved cooperation on integrated water resource management.
This focus comes at a time when droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, particularly across vulnerable regions such as the Greater Horn of Africa, where shifting rainfall patterns continue to strain livelihoods and ecosystems.
Elevating People and Rangelands
Beyond technical and financial solutions, COP17 is expected to amplify the voices of those most directly affected by land degradation. Land and People’s Day on 26 August will spotlight Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, local communities, youth, and women who play a critical role in managing and restoring ecosystems.
Rangelands, which support the livelihoods of approximately 500 million people globally, will receive particular attention. Despite their importance, these ecosystems remain among the most undervalued in policy and investment frameworks.
Batbaatar Bat noted that the Riyadh–Ulaanbaatar Action Agenda also drives investment in the land–water nexus and strengthens drought resilience.
Linking Soil Health to Food Security
Food Systems and Soil Health Day on 27 August will explore the intersection between agriculture, land degradation, and global food demand. With the world expected to require at least 50 percent more food by 2050, the challenge lies in increasing production without further degrading land.
“The thematic days of COP17 are designed to focus global attention where it matters most, on the solutions and partnerships needed to restore land, strengthen drought resilience, and support the people who take care of our ecosystems,” Fouad added.
A Defining Moment for Land Action
The thematic structure of COP17 reflects a broader shift in global environmental governance, from setting targets to delivering tangible results. By aligning finance, science, policy, and community action, the conference seeks to accelerate progress on land restoration and drought resilience.
As countries prepare to gather in Ulaanbaatar, the message from organizers is clear: restoring land is no longer optional; it is essential for sustaining communities, economies, and ecosystems in an increasingly uncertain climate.
With mounting pressures from climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity, COP17 is poised to become a defining moment in the global effort to restore degraded landscapes and secure a more resilient future.
