The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is holding its 17th conference of parties in Ulaanbaatar, beginning this week, to determine how to distribute more than $12 billion in funding to countries affected by drought and land degradation. The timing coincides with what could be the hottest year on record, marked by wildfires across North America and Europe and severe heatwaves in Asia.
The primary objective of the talks, which will continue through later this month, involves converting previous financial pledges into concrete projects. The funding stems largely from the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership established in 2024, through which countries and institutions committed $12 billion over seven years to assist 74 drought-affected nations. Proposed initiatives include enhancing irrigation efficiency, introducing drought-resistant crop varieties, and developing rainwater storage infrastructure for agricultural communities.
Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad indicated that land restoration directly supports food security, noting this connection should underpin financing strategies. Current projections suggest substantially larger investments will be required—the UNCCD estimates approximately $2.6 trillion cumulatively through this decade is necessary to fully address land degradation, halt desertification, and restore soils globally.
Saudi Arabia, traditionally focused on resisting climate action at other UN forums, has emerged as a major supporter of desertification initiatives, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars and coordinating collective pledges through international partnerships. The United States maintains membership in the convention despite recent withdrawals from other environmental agreements. Advocacy groups are pressing wealthy nations to recognize that funding land restoration in developing countries protects their own food security, supply chains, and manages migration pressures stemming from environmental degradation.
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