Mongolia hosts COP17 desertification summit amid fuel crisis

The COP17 summit of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is set to convene in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28. The summit aims to address land degradation and mobilize finance and governance to restore the world’s degraded lands under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”

Ahead of the summit, the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) released policy briefs emphasizing the need for collective action. The IRD highlights that achieving land degradation neutrality requires adapting solutions to local territorial realities, centering local populations in projects, and strengthening scientific networks. The research notes that desertification is a global issue affecting food security and biodiversity, even in regions like France.

However, the host nation is facing significant domestic challenges. Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Ukhra has announced emergency austerity measures, including the suspension of state spending, to redirect funds toward winter preparedness and energy supplies. Mongolia is also grappling with a severe fuel crisis; national petrol reserves have dropped to between 11 and 13 days of consumption. This shortage has led to rationing and long queues at fuel stations, prompting the US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar to advise Americans to delay non-essential travel.