The UN's bi-annual talks on desertification, known as Cop17, have started in Mongolia, with negotiations set to allocate more than $12bn (£8.9bn) to countries vulnerable to drought and land degradation. The 17th conference of the parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) began on August 17 in Ulaanbaatar.
Yasmine Fouad, executive secretary of the UNCCD, stated that the negotiations aim to "send a positive signal of multilateralism." A key objective is to implement billions of dollars in pledges made two years ago through projects in the developing world.
The talks, which will continue until August 28, will focus on putting into action the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership. This fund and related initiatives, forged in 2024, saw countries and institutions pledge $12bn over seven years to assist 74 countries affected by drought and land degradation.
Potential projects include improving irrigation systems, replanting land with drought-resistant crops, and enhancing rainwater storage facilities for farmers. While the current $12bn is from the public sector, efforts are underway to secure additional private sector funding.