The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is convening its 17th conference of parties in Ulaanbaatar beginning on 17 August to allocate more than $12 billion in funding to developing nations facing severe drought and land degradation challenges. The timing of the summit coincides with record-breaking heat affecting the northern hemisphere, including wildfires across North America and Europe and widespread heatwaves in Asia, underscoring the urgency of these discussions.
The primary objective involves transforming financial pledges made two years prior into concrete projects across vulnerable regions. Yasmine Fouad, executive secretary of the UNCCD, emphasized that negotiations would demonstrate the viability of international cooperation while addressing food security concerns. The World Food Programme has warned that current climatic conditions could push an additional 50 million people into food insecurity, making land restoration initiatives increasingly critical.
The $12 billion pledged represents a significant shift in attention toward a treaty that has historically received less focus than parallel environmental agreements established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, namely the climate change and biodiversity conventions. Saudi Arabia has emerged as an unexpected champion of these efforts, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars following its hosting of the previous summit in 2024 and establishing the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership aimed at assisting 74 drought-affected nations over seven years.
Despite progress, experts note the committed funding falls substantially short of estimated requirements. The UNCCD calculates that approximately $2.6 trillion cumulatively through the end of this decade will be necessary to address land degradation, desertification prevention, drought protection, and soil restoration. Proposed projects include modernizing irrigation systems, introducing drought-resistant crops, and enhancing rainwater capture infrastructure for agricultural communities.
Current pledges derive exclusively from government sources, though initiatives are underway to secure additional private sector contributions from food and textile companies dependent on water and agricultural supplies. Advocacy organizations are urging wealthy nations to recognize that investment in restoration abroad directly supports their own food security, migration management, and supply chain stability.
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