AGP Executive Report

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Parties closed the two-week desertification talks with rangelands back at the center and $1.2–$1.3 billion lined up for restoration, but negotiators still couldn’t agree on a global drought preparedness and management framework—kicking the hardest decisions to COP18. Civil society pushback: Indigenous peoples, women, youth, and pastoralists warned that one party’s objections sidelined core issues like gender, civil society participation, and cross-convention cooperation, urging Mongolia’s presidency to keep talks inclusive. Implementation pressure: UNCCD’s chief stressed COP17 must translate pledges into on-the-ground action, not just paperwork. Mongolia-EU forestry cooperation: Mongolia and the EU discussed expanding forest rehabilitation and sustainable forest management, including potential EIB financing and a “Steppe Action Agenda” legacy. Private sector gets a seat: UNCCD and Mongolia’s Business Council signed an MoU to launch Business4Land Mongolia, aiming to mobilize investment and innovation for land restoration and drought resilience. Local restoration wins: A Mongolian project reported 37,500 new trees planted on wildfire-damaged land, with staged expansion planned.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: The conference’s high-level week is pushing a clear message: land restoration and drought action must move from pledges to implementation, with ministers and delegates from ~170 countries focusing on finance, water, and people-centered governance. Soil crisis: A new UN/FAO report warns more than half the world’s soils are in poor condition, threatening food and biodiversity, and says proven soil-health measures aren’t being adopted fast enough. Mongolia–EU forestry push: Mongolia and the EU discussed expanding cooperation on sustainable forest management and rehabilitation, including links to the EU-Mongolia Forest Partnership and possible EIB financing. Mongolia–Japan desertification support: Mongolia and Japan agreed to expand programs to mitigate desertification and drought, including training and updating the UN index, building on past Japanese-backed freshwater and biodiversity work. Business4Land Mongolia Hub: UNCCD and Mongolia’s Business Council signed an MoU to create a Mongolia hub to pull private investment into land restoration and drought resilience. Zero Waste cities: Ulaanbaatar and other Mongolian cities joined an International Zero Waste Cities Network, aiming to scale waste reduction, reuse, and recycling systems. Cultural heritage under climate stress: A COP17-linked story highlights how climate change is accelerating damage to Erdene Zuu monastery, Mongolia’s heritage sanctuary.

Soil Crisis at COP17: A new UN FAO report warns more than half of the world’s soils are in poor condition, with soil degradation accelerating and proven soil-health measures not being adopted fast enough—threatening food, biodiversity, and climate stability. Rangelands & Pastoral Resilience: Qatar’s environment ministry highlighted rangeland protection and ecosystem restoration efforts at COP17, stressing that healthy rangelands support biodiversity, soil health, and drought resilience. Nature-based Solutions Push: Mongolia and partners used a COP17 dialogue to argue that nature-based solutions need real policy and finance to scale up across land, climate, and biodiversity goals. Land Restoration Funding: The ADB launched its FIELD initiative, aiming to attract at least $2 billion by 2035 to restore degraded land and strengthen drought resilience across Asia-Pacific. Mongolia’s Mining Rehab Results: Mongolia reported 13,980 hectares of technical rehabilitation and 3,632 hectares of biological rehabilitation of mining-degraded land between 2020–2025, sharing next-step strategies. Green AI Data Center Plan: Mongolia’s PM unveiled an energy-efficient renewable “Green AI Data Center” concept tied to the Steppe Action agenda, aiming to cut emissions while boosting environmental data and decision-making. COP17 Negotiations Under Strain: Civil society and the EU warned that agenda disputes and blocked discussions could undermine multilateral progress as talks enter the final stretch. Agriculture Update: Mongolia expects its 2026 harvest to meet domestic demand, with preliminary figures projecting 555,300 tons of grain including wheat and potatoes.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia is pushing “Rio synergies” across climate, biodiversity and desertification, with a Steppe Action agenda aimed at turning commitments into investable land restoration and drought resilience. Land restoration finance: The UNCCD Global Mechanism says Africa must move from project-by-project funding to large, bankable landscape programmes, while experts argue rangeland restoration can return $4–$6 per $1 invested. Mining land rehab: Mongolia reported 13,980 hectares of technical rehabilitation and 3,632 hectares of biological rehabilitation of mining-degraded land over 2020–2025. Drought preparedness & water: COP17 discussions highlighted early warning and risk financing, plus Mongolia’s “Blue Horse” surface-water storage plan to capture spring floods and protect Gobi drinking sources. Food security at home: Mongolia’s 2026 harvest update projects grain output of 555,300 tons (including wheat and potatoes) supported by concessional loans for timely farm operations. Green AI data centers: PM Uchral unveiled an energy-efficient renewable-powered “Green AI Data Center” concept to cut emissions while building a smart environmental decision platform. Soil crisis warning: A new FAO report says over half the world’s soils are in poor condition and proven soil practices still aren’t being adopted fast enough.

UNCCD COP17, Mongolia: UNCCD’s chief Yasmine Fouad says three “World Restoration Flagships” are already showing results, with awards for Brazil, the Sahel and Saudi Arabia—together targeting nearly 5 million hectares restored by 2030. Drought resilience & water: Mongolia’s “Blue Horse” push aims to store spring flood and summer rainwater via reservoirs and to protect Gobi drinking sources, while Egypt calls for a legally binding global drought protocol and stronger early-warning and preparedness. Rangelands & pastoralists: India and Bangladesh both stress community-led rangeland restoration, with pastoralists treated as custodians; FAO adds that restoring the right grasses and forage matters for long-term productivity. Regional green tech: Uzbekistan, China and Mongolia discussed science-backed pasture restoration and desertification control, while Mongolia and Japan plan to expand cooperation on drought and desertification risk work. Mongolia’s green economy angle: A deal links Mongolia’s green AI data centre ambitions to renewable power and efficiency, and Prime Minister Uchral met Loro Piana on sustainable cashmere practices.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said Africa’s Great Green Wall has restored over 20 million hectares, linking land restoration to livelihoods and peace, while warning that insecurity and conflict keep pressure on drought-hit communities. Rangelands & pastoralists: India urged community-led, science-based rangeland restoration that treats pastoralists as custodians, not just beneficiaries, arguing traditional knowledge plus modern planning can make recovery work. Drought policy shift: Egypt called for a legally binding global drought protocol and stronger early-warning and preparedness, as drought and land degradation threaten water, food security, and stability. Drought preparedness now: Sri Lanka echoed the “before crisis” message, pushing for climate information, early-warning systems, capacity building, and predictable finance for developing countries. Mongolia-Japan cooperation: Mongolia and Japan agreed to expand projects on desertification and drought risk reduction, including staff training and updating UN indices, building on Japan-supported conservation and freshwater work. Local green infrastructure: A Chinese-Mongolian wastewater treatment facility is credited with turning around Ulaanbaatar’s Tuul River pollution, supporting a smoother handover to local operators. Green urban push: BYD Battery signed an MoU with Ulaanbaatar to expand green transport, charging, and battery storage for lower-carbon city development.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Kuwait is sending a delegation to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, stressing sustainable land management and cooperation on drought and sand-and-dust storms. Pastoralist Rights: Pastoralists attending COP17 are pushing for stronger protections for Indigenous herding traditions, more funding, and official recognition of Indigenous knowledge as climate impacts intensify. Soil vs Climate Deadlock: France warns talks could stall if land degradation is treated separately from climate, biodiversity and water scarcity, while the U.S. is accused of blocking progress. Brazil’s Land Targets: Brazil unveiled voluntary land degradation neutrality targets to restore over 163,000 km² by 2030, combining native vegetation recovery, agroforestry and conservation in indigenous and watershed areas. Drought Resilience Playbook: India’s Bhupender Yadav urged a shift from reactive relief to proactive, technology-enabled drought resilience, including early warning, satellite monitoring and watershed/forest restoration. Mongolia’s Finance Push: The EIB and Mongolia signed an LOI opening up to EUR 200 million for forestry and conservation, aiming to protect forests, restore degraded land and create jobs. Green Urban Tech: BYD Battery signed an MoU with Ulaanbaatar to cooperate on green transport, charging networks and battery storage for lower-carbon city development. Biodiversity + Loss & Damage: Experts at COP17 discussed how to better track ecosystem losses in Loss & Damage assessments, including non-economic impacts on livelihoods and culture.

UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia: Mongolia is using the desertification summit as a platform for “ecological diplomacy,” with leaders pushing for concrete, implementation-focused action on restoring land and rangelands. Mongolia-EU forestry finance: The European Investment Bank and Mongolia signed a Letter of Intent for up to EUR 200 million to protect forests and restore degraded land, with EU grants and concessional lending aimed at jobs and livelihoods. Drought resilience push: India’s Bhupender Yadav urged a shift from reactive drought relief to proactive, technology-enabled resilience, including early warning, satellite assessments, and restoring catchments and traditional water bodies. GEF funding boost: The Global Environment Facility announced a $140 million drylands and drought management program to help countries move toward proactive drought planning. Regional land-finance deals: ADB launched the FIELD initiative to attract at least $2 billion by 2035 for land restoration and drought resilience across Asia-Pacific. Wildlife-human conflict: A Qinghai project highlights how improving biodiversity can increase bear incursions into settlements, forcing new coexistence approaches. Water cooperation: Egypt and Mongolia discussed water resources management cooperation, including efficiency gains and modernized “Water 2.0” systems.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia’s COP17 high-level segment kicked off with tree planting and a push for integrated, long-term action on desertification, land degradation, drought and biodiversity loss. Finance Day momentum: Delegates announced a major $1.3bn push for land restoration and drought resilience, with a stark gap still looming between needs and current funding. ADB’s FIELD initiative: The Asian Development Bank launched a regional plan aiming to attract at least $2bn by 2035, targeting land and forest restoration plus river-basin and water management. Rangelands at the center: India urged diversified, predictable finance and called restoration an investment in food, water and livelihoods, while COP17 talks intensified around drought early-warning and accountability. Community-led restoration: Morocco’s High Atlas Foundation argued climate and land projects must be designed and led by local communities, especially women and young people. Mongolia-Green cooperation: Mongolia and UNEP agreed on a $2m study project on infectious animal disease spread, linking land stewardship with healthier ecosystems and livelihoods. Mongolia’s rural financing: ADB-backed Green Inclusive Regional Agribusiness Fund (GIRAF) is set to support sustainable rangeland management and livestock-linked rural businesses.

UNCCD COP17 Finance Push: On Finance Day in Ulaanbaatar, the Global EbA Fund announced up to USD 7.5 million in new grants to scale nature-based solutions for land restoration and drought resilience. GEF Drought Program: The Global Environment Facility unveiled a new USD 140 million drylands and drought management integrated program for proactive drought resilience across ecosystems, food, water, livelihoods and health. Rangelands as Investment: A new report launched at COP17 argues rangelands are an economic engine and calls for backing the 500 million pastoralists who steward them. Mongolia–UNEP Health Link: UNEP and Mongolia will jointly run a USD 2 million study project on how infectious animal diseases spread and how to reduce outbreaks. ADB Rural Resilience Finance: ADB launched the GIRAF fund (USD 92.6 million from the Green Climate Fund, plus expected bank support) to finance sustainable rangeland management and greener livestock livelihoods. Air Pollution Cut in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia plans to ban low-quality AI-92 gasoline and move the capital to Euro-5 fuel to reduce sulfur and improve air quality. Biodiversity Strategy & Protected Areas: Mongolia and Germany expand environmental cooperation, including protected areas and forestry policy updates, with civil society and local communities in the decision process. Solar for Cleaner Heating: UNDP’s solar project in Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts targets 450 households with solar-powered heating to cut costs and curb air pollution. COP17 Cultural Outreach: Delegates visited the “Nomad” World Cultural Festival to highlight nomadic knowledge and traditions tied to living with nature.

UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia: Kuwait joins the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, backing “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope” and pledging support for sustainable land management and drought resilience. COP17 finance focus: A new GEF Drylands and Drought Management Integrated Program (up to $140m in grants for 2026–2030) aims to shift countries from crisis response to proactive drought preparedness. Mongolia’s COP17 push: India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav arrives to advance land degradation neutrality and eco-restoration positions, while Mongolia’s leaders stress concrete action, including investment, water protection, and measures against sand and dust storms. Local conservation financing: Mongolia’s Nature’s Legacy Fund highlights a move toward results-based environmental funding that pays for real impact. Green cities: Ulaanbaatar completes the first 110 green housing units at Sharkhad sub-center, cutting energy and water use and earning EDGE certification. Land restoration message: COP17 coverage underscores that land degradation hits food, water, livelihoods, and public finances—so restoration is economic infrastructure, not just ecology. Desertification story with a human face: An American teacher reunites with Inner Mongolia’s desert-fighting tree planter after 27 years, tied to a 1999 $5,000 donation that helped grow a forest of 50,000+ trees. China–Arab drought plan: China and Arab states launch a five-year action plan for drought, desertification, and land degradation, including sandstorm monitoring and remote-sensing tech sharing. Broader land agenda: Delegates discuss how rangelands and soils can protect food security and act as a global carbon sink.

UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia: Mongolia kicked off COP17 under “Restore the land, restore hope,” with Prime Minister Uchral urging concrete, measurable action and noting 80% of the country is affected by land degradation. Local implementation push: A recurring theme at COP17 is shifting from big promises to on-the-ground projects led by communities, herders, and local priorities—so restoration, water protection, and drought resilience actually get funded and delivered. Mongolia’s green finance shift: Mongolia’s Nature’s Legacy Fund chair says environmental funding is moving from broad “sustainable” finance toward direct environmental finance, with a push for results-based, impact-first disbursement models. Biodiversity offsets for mining: Mongolia signed an MoU to reduce mining impacts on biodiversity using science-based offset measures, outcome tracking, and long-term conservation financing. Urban greening: Ulaanbaatar completed the first 110 green housing units at Sharkhad sub-center, aiming to cut energy and water use and support wider green housing expansion. China–Mongolia support: China is backing Mongolia’s desertification fight through sapling supply (over 11.7 million shipped by early June) and restoration know-how, while also expanding sandstorm monitoring cooperation. China–Arab drought plan: China and Arab states launched a five-year action plan at COP17 to tackle drought, desertification, and land degradation, including remote sensing, early warning, grassland management, and wetland restoration.

UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar is hosting UNCCD COP17 under “Restore the land, restore hope,” with Prime Minister Uchral urging concrete action and noting 80% of Mongolia’s territory is affected by soil degradation. Local action and financing: Discussions at COP17 pushed a shift from promises to implementation, including results-based conservation financing models and stronger roles for civil society, herders, and indigenous knowledge. Green housing in Ulaanbaatar: The first 110 green housing units at the Sharkhad sub-center were commissioned, aiming to cut energy use by 25% and water use by 20–25% versus conventional buildings. Biodiversity offsets for mining: Mongolia’s environment ministry signed an MoU to reduce mining impacts on biodiversity using science-based offset measures and long-term conservation financing. China–Mongolia land support: China is backing Mongolia’s desertification fight with sapling supplies (over 11.7 million shipped) and restoration know-how, framed as a cross-border challenge. Land restoration gap: An IUCN report says countries have restored only about 10.4% of pledged land restoration targets, despite 124.3 million hectares restored so far.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia is hosting the “land COP” as leaders push to move desertification work from promises to on-the-ground action, with Prime Minister Uchral urging concrete results and noting that most of Mongolia’s territory is already degraded. Local-first restoration: Speakers at COP17 stress that communities—especially herders, women, and youth—must help design and manage restoration projects, not just receive them. Green housing in Ulaanbaatar: The first 110 “green housing” units at Sharkhad sub-center are completed, aiming to cut energy and water use and improve comfort, with EDGE certification. Results-based conservation finance: Mongolia’s Nature’s Legacy Fund says environmental funding is shifting toward paying for measurable outcomes, proposing a criteria-driven system for conservation impact. Biodiversity offsets for mining: Mongolia signed an MoU to reduce mining impacts on biodiversity using science-based offset measures and long-term conservation financing. Land restoration gap: An IUCN report released alongside COP17 finds countries restored 124.3 million hectares—just 10.4% of pledged targets—highlighting a major financing and implementation shortfall. China’s support for Mongolia’s land fight: China is backing Mongolia’s desertification response, including large sapling shipments and restoration know-how shared across the border.

UNCCD COP17 Launch in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia kicked off COP17 under “Restore the land, restore hope,” with Prime Minister Uchral urging concrete action and noting that 80% of Mongolia’s territory is already affected by soil degradation. Local Governance & Partnerships: The Mayors’ Forum in Ulaanbaatar pushed city-to-city cooperation to tackle desertification, water scarcity, pasture degradation and dust storms that don’t respect borders. Green Housing in the Capital: Ulaanbaatar completed the first 110 green housing units at the Sharkhad sub-center, targeting big cuts in energy and water use and earning EDGE certification. Conservation Finance That Pays for Results: At COP17, Mongolia’s Nature’s Legacy Fund backed a shift toward results-based environmental financing, arguing funds should follow measurable habitat impact. Mining, Biodiversity Offsets: Mongolia signed an MoU to reduce mining impacts on biodiversity using science-based offset measures and long-term conservation financing. Civil Society at the Table: COP17 held an open dialogue between parties and civil society, stressing local and indigenous knowledge plus sustainable financing for land restoration. Restoration Gap Exposed: An IUCN study says countries restored 124.3 million hectares—just 10.4% of pledged targets—highlighting a major implementation shortfall as degradation worsens. China’s Support for Mongolia’s Land Fight: Multiple reports highlight China’s backing for Mongolia’s desertification response, including sapling supplies and restoration know-how shared through cross-border cooperation. Renewables vs. Land Protection: Experts at COP17 warned that solar and other renewables must be planned carefully so clean energy expansion also supports ecosystem restoration.

UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia’s land-degradation crisis is front and center as COP17 convenes until Aug. 28, with China backing the summit and highlighting cross-border desertification work. China–Mongolia restoration support: China’s Inner Mongolia region is supplying Mongolia with millions of saplings (11.7 million shipped by early June) and sharing restoration know-how, including sandstorm monitoring and afforestation models. Land restoration gap: A new IUCN study says countries have restored 124.3 million hectares—about 10.4% of pledged targets—while Mongolia’s degraded land is nearly 77%, worsened by overgrazing and climate-linked drought. Biodiversity offsets for mining: Mongolia signed an MoU to reduce mining impacts on biodiversity using science-based offset measures, outcome tracking, and long-term conservation financing. COP17 dialogue and “Steppe Action”: An open dialogue with parties and civil society focused on combining local and indigenous knowledge with science and sustainable financing to turn commitments into on-the-ground action. Green finance push: Mongolia launched a Mongolia Green Finance Corporation during COP17 to channel long-term funding for low-carbon and energy-efficient projects.