Dare Akogun
The Government of Mongolia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification have unveiled the thematic days and action agenda ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties, with a strong focus on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable food systems.
COP17 is scheduled to be held in Ulaanbaatar from August 17 to 28, 2026, under the theme, “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.”
In a statement obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday, the UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad, said the conference presents a critical opportunity for countries to move beyond commitments and deliver measurable outcomes on land restoration.
“COP17 is our opportunity to turn these commitments into real change on the ground. That means mobilising finance at scale for land restoration and drought resilience, investing in preparedness rather than costly crisis response, and recognising rangelands as vital assets,” Fouad said.
She noted that countries have, over the past decade, committed to restoring one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, with more than 70 nations already adopting national drought plans.
Fouad added that healthy land remains central to food security, water availability, economic resilience and global stability.
Mongolia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Batbaatar Bat, said the Riyadh–Ulaanbaatar Action Agenda would serve as a participatory framework to mobilise stakeholders across sectors.
According to him, the initiative was designed to drive investment in the land–water nexus and strengthen drought resilience globally.
He called on governments, businesses and development partners to accelerate solutions that support sustainable economies and resilient societies.
Delegates from UNCCD’s 197 parties are expected to converge on Ulaanbaatar alongside scientists, private sector actors and land users to advance land restoration as a cornerstone of global resilience and prosperity.
The conference, which is the first of the three Rio Conventions COPs scheduled for 2026, is expected to shape global discussions ahead of subsequent meetings on biodiversity and climate change.
To drive implementation, COP17 will feature four thematic days.
Finance Day, slated for August 24, will focus on closing the funding gap for land restoration, estimated at about $1bn daily, by engaging finance ministers, development banks and private investors.
Water Day on August 25 will address drought preparedness and integrated water resource management amid projections that three out of four people could face drought conditions by 2050.
August 26 will be observed as Land and People Day, spotlighting the role of rangelands that support about 500 million people globally, while amplifying the voices of indigenous communities, pastoralists and youth.
The final thematic day, Food Systems and Soil Health on August 27, will examine strategies to boost global food production by at least 50 per cent by 2050 while tackling land degradation linked to current agricultural practices.
Fouad explained that the thematic structure is aimed at bridging policy decisions with practical solutions.
“By bringing together governments, scientists, businesses and local communities around shared priorities, we aim to move from commitments to implementation,” she said.
Nigeria, a signatory to the UNCCD, is among countries grappling with severe land degradation and desertification, particularly in its northern regions, where advancing desert encroachment and climate variability continue to threaten livelihoods, food security and rural economies.
At COP16 held in Riyadh in 2024, Nigeria joined other African countries in pushing for increased global financing and technical support to combat desertification and restore degraded lands across the Sahel region.
The country also reiterated its commitment to land restoration targets under the Great Green Wall initiative, aimed at reclaiming degraded landscapes and improving resilience in frontline communities.
Experts say outcomes from COP17 in Mongolia will be critical for Nigeria and other developing countries seeking stronger financial commitments, technology transfer and scalable solutions to address land degradation and drought impacts.
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