{"id":61381,"date":"2026-07-17T23:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/?p=61381"},"modified":"2026-07-17T23:00:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:00:59","slug":"unccd-cop17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/unccd-cop17.html","title":{"rendered":"UNCCD COP17"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sectors and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world\u2019s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 Parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today\u2019s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow\u2019s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.<\/p>\n

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What is COP17 and why does it matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) comes at a time when land degradation and drought are increasingly affecting economies, food systems, water availability and livelihoods across regions.<\/p>\n

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is the global agreement on land and one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity. Its Conference of the Parties brings together 197 Parties \u2014 196 countries and the European Union \u2014 to advance global action on desertification, land degradation and drought.<\/p>\n

UNCCD COP17 will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026 under the theme \u201cRestoring Land, Restoring Hope.\u201d Hosted in a country already experiencing the impacts of land degradation, drought and water stress, COP17 will connect global discussions with the real-world pressures already affecting drylands, rangelands and rural livelihoods.<\/p>\n

Up to 40 per cent of the world\u2019s land is degraded, affecting nearly half of humanity, while droughts have increased by nearly one-third since 2000. Land degradation costs the global economy close to USD 900 billion annually, while drought generates at least USD 300 billion in losses each year.<\/p>\n

As these pressures intensify, land degradation and drought are increasingly recognized as risk multipliers that can deepen economic vulnerability, resource pressures and instability, particularly in fragile regions. In April 2026, G7 ministers recognized desertification, land degradation and drought as systemic global security risks.<\/p>\n

Taking place during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, COP17 will place particular emphasis on rangelands, drought resilience, scaling finance for land restoration and sustainable food systems.<\/p>\n

COP17 reflects a broader shift:<\/strong><\/p>\n