UNCCD COP17 summit opens in Mongolia to address land degradation

UNCCD COP17 land degradation desertification drought resilience soil health

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has opened in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, running from August 17 to August 28. Under the theme ‘Restoring Land, Restoring Hope’, the summit brings together 197 parties, including 196 countries and the European Union, to address the global crisis of land degradation, drought, and water scarcity.

Approximately 40% of the world's land surface is currently degraded, affecting an estimated 3.2 billion people. The economic impact is significant, with land degradation and drought costing the global economy nearly USD 900 billion annually. Mongolia, the host nation, faces severe challenges, with nearly 77% of its territory already degraded.

Key priorities for the summit include mobilizing public and private investment for land restoration, enhancing drought resilience, and discussing sustainable agriculture and soil health. The convention aims to support the restoration of over one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. Discussions also highlight regional vulnerabilities, such as the high desertification rates in Spain's Murcia region and the impact of climate phenomena like El Niño on Latin American agriculture.

Entities

COP17 · European Union · Latin America · Mongolia · Murcia · Spain · Ulaanbaatar · United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification · Yasmine Fouad

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] More than 40% of Spain is affected by desertification. www.orm.es
[● 4 SOURCES] The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has 197 parties, including 196 countries and the European Union. www.insightsonindia.com · www.linfodurable.fr · travel2films.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk
[○ 1 SOURCE] In the Spanish region of Murcia, 91% of the territory is undergoing desertification. www.orm.es
[● 5 SOURCES] The COP17 summit is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to August 28. www.linfodurable.fr · www.eldiarioar.com · www.insightsonindia.com · travel2films.com · www.radiohc.cu
[● 6 SOURCES] The COP17 theme is 'Restoring Land, Restoring Hope'. www.orm.es · www.insightsonindia.com · travel2films.com · www.linfodurable.fr · www.eldiarioar.com · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Nearly 40% of the world's land surface is currently degraded. www.linfodurable.fr · travel2films.com · www.lasillavacia.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] Nearly 77% of Mongolia's territory is degraded due to desertification. lepays.bf · www.lasillavacia.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Land degradation and drought cost the global economy nearly USD 900 billion annually. travel2films.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The COP17 aims to mobilize action to restore over one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. www.radiohc.cu
[○ 1 SOURCE] Drought frequency has increased by nearly one-third since the year 2000. travel2films.com