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COP17 begins in Mongolia to address desertification and drought
The 17th UN Conference to Combat Desertification (COP17) commenced on August 17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The summit brings together representatives from 196 countries and the European Union to address global soil degradation, drought, and land restoration. A primary objective is the creation of a new international instrument to strengthen drought governance, following unresolved discussions from COP16 in Saudi Arabia.
The conference occurs amid rising global environmental concerns. Data from the UNCCD indicates that drought frequency and duration have increased by nearly 30% since 2000, and soil degradation currently affects approximately 40% of the world's land. Projections suggest that by 2050, three out of four people globally could be impacted by drought conditions.
In Brazil, the crisis is manifesting through severe drought across all five regions. At least 157 municipalities have been classified under severe drought conditions as of July 2026, impacting agriculture and water security. Notably, the number of indigenous territories in Brazil affected by severe drought rose from three in June to 17 in July. The Amazon region also faces significant challenges, with low river levels disrupting logistics, food supplies, and medicine transport.
Entities
Articulação Semiárido Brasileiro · Brazil · COP17 · Cemaden · Ivi Aliana · Mongolia · Sudene · Ulaanbaatar · United Nations · United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification · Yasmine Fouad
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 14 SOURCES] Approximately 18% of Brazil's territory is classified as Areas Susceptible to Desertification (ASD). www.araucarianoar.com.br · paraonline.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · correiodobrasil.com.br · radiosampaio.com.br · +8 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] An estimated 39 million people in Brazil live in zones vulnerable to desertification. www.araucarianoar.com.br · paraonline.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · correiodobrasil.com.br · radiosampaio.com.br · +8 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The 170,000 square kilometer increase in affected land is roughly equivalent to the combined area of Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Alagoas. www.araucarianoar.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · radiosampaio.com.br · www.piranot.com.br · www.ocafezinho.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] The area affected by desertification in Brazil grew from 1.35 million to 1.51 million square kilometers between 2000 and 2020. www.araucarianoar.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · radiosampaio.com.br · www.piranot.com.br · www.ocafezinho.com · +2 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Traditional and vulnerable populations feel the immediate effects of land degradation. www.araucarianoar.com.br · paraonline.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · correiodobrasil.com.br · cartacampinas.com.br · +6 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Desertification impacts food supply, water security, temperature increases, and both urban and rural economies. www.araucarianoar.com.br · paraonline.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · cartacampinas.com.br · jc.uol.com.br · +5 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The 17th United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (COP17) is being held in Mongolia. www.araucarianoar.com.br · paraonline.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · correiodobrasil.com.br · radiosampaio.com.br · +12 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The 170,000 square kilometer increase in desertification area is roughly equivalent to the combined size of Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Alagoas. www.araucarianoar.com.br · cenariomt.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] Soil degradation affects food supply, water security, temperature increases, and both urban and rural economies. www.araucarianoar.com.br · paraonline.com.br · cenariomt.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Brazilian Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Mitigate the Effects of Drought (PAB-Brazil 2025–2043) was launched in March 2026. radiosampaio.com.br · www.prensa-latina.cu · destakjornal.com.br
- [● 7 SOURCES] Land degradation phenomena threaten the lives of 3.2 billion people. fr.news.yahoo.com · www.rfi.fr · efeverde.com · www.aip.ci · aquiacontece.com.br · +2 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] The COP17 conference in Mongolia is scheduled to run from August 17 to August 28. efeverde.com · www.la-croix.com · www.rfi.fr · taz.de · aquiacontece.com.br · +11 more