UNCCD COP17 concludes with $1.3 billion for land restoration

The UNCCD COP17 conference in Ulaanbaatar concluded with significant financial announcements and progress on rangeland management, though several key policy issues remain unresolved.

Participants announced a $1.3 billion investment portfolio dedicated to land restoration and drought resilience across 23 countries. This includes $644.5 million in new finance and $216.4 million already confirmed for implementation. Additionally, the Rangelands Flagship Initiative launched a $1.2 billion portfolio comprising 45 projects, marking the largest mobilization for rangelands in the Convention's history.

Despite these financial gains, the conference faced challenges regarding policy consensus. Parties failed to reach an agreement on whether to establish a global instrument on drought, such as a legally binding protocol, or to follow a voluntary approach. This issue is expected to be addressed at COP18 in Egypt. Furthermore, formal agenda items concerning gender, indigenous people, and synergies among Rio Conventions could not be officially considered due to a lack of consensus on their inclusion.

The International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) also introduced the world's first Drought Resilience Index to assist countries in managing water and soil health. Discussions emphasized the need to bridge the gap between existing scientific solutions and the practical application of finance and policy at the landscape level.