UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP17 Concludes: Progress on Financing for Land Restoration; Drought Framework Deferred to Next Session

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded on August 28, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. During the meeting, international public financial institutions pledged US$645 million in new funding for efforts to address land degradation, marking a degree of progress on the financing front. However, delegates did not reach final agreement on an international framework to strengthen systematic preparedness for drought, and discussions were deferred to the next session, COP18, scheduled for 2028.