The UN Convention to Combat Desertification is holding its 17th conference of the parties in Ulaanbaatar beginning this week to mobilize funding for drought-stricken nations. The gathering comes as the northern hemisphere experiences potentially record-breaking temperatures, with wildfires and heatwaves causing widespread damage across multiple regions.
At the center of the negotiations is the allocation of more than $12bn in pledges made two years earlier through the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership. This fund aims to support 74 countries struggling with drought and associated land degradation over a seven-year period. According to the executive secretary of the UNCCD, the primary objective is to transform these financial commitments into concrete development projects in vulnerable nations. Potential initiatives include upgrading irrigation infrastructure, introducing drought-resistant crops, and expanding rainwater capture systems for agricultural use.
The summit represents a significant shift in international attention to desertification, a topic that has historically received less focus than climate change or biodiversity conservation. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a leading advocate, having hosted the previous conference and pledging substantial resources alongside other nations and institutions. The United States remains engaged with the desertification treaty despite prior withdrawals from other environmental agreements.
Experts and advocacy organizations stress that current funding levels fall far short of actual needs, with estimates suggesting approximately $2.6tn will be required cumulatively through the end of this decade to address land restoration and drought resilience. Officials involved in the discussions emphasize the connection between land degradation and broader global challenges including food security and population displacement. Efforts are underway to supplement public sector commitments with private sector financing, targeting companies dependent on agricultural and water resources. The conference is scheduled to conclude at the end of August.
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