Mongolia Hosts COP17, Urging Global Partners to Action on Climate Issues
Mongolia wanted to see “a shift from talk to action” at COP17. The results were mixed.
The 17th Conference of the Parties to the U.N Convention to Combat Desertification, known as COP17, took place in Ulaanbaatar from August 17-28. Representatives from 196 countries, along with the European Union, gathered to discuss climate challenges and negotiate action-based measures. Among the attendees were Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, U.N.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, and various business leaders. The conference aimed to shift from discussing targets to implementing solutions and achieving measurable results.
The COP17 agenda included segments on finance, water, land, and food systems. A new initiative aimed at combating drought was agreed upon, with $1.3 billion in financing pledged. However, a new financial mechanism to address drought was not approved. The opening ceremony featured speeches from Mongolian Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor, UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmin Fouad, and others.
Mongolia faced unique challenges, such as extreme climate fluctuations, water pollution from mining, and mismanagement of rangelands. The country's government, civil society, and environmental organizations worked with global partners to address issues like desertification, drought, and land degradation. Progress was made since COP16 in Riyadh, with more than 70 countries developing national drought plans.
The final days of COP17 focused on negotiating a mechanism to combat drought. While the Asian Development Bank estimated an annual need of $355 billion for land degradation and drought mitigation, current investments stood at only $77 billion, leaving a financing gap of $278 billion. The disagreement centered on whether to establish a new drought protocol, with some developed countries preferring to utilize existing multilateral frameworks.
Despite these challenges, the conference saw the launch of the "Rangelands Flagship Initiative," a global investment of $1.3 billion aimed at sustainable management and restoration of pasture lands in 23 countries.
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