UN Desertification summit highlights urgent action on drought and land loss

New York: The Presidencies of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties, COP16 (Saudi Arabia) and COP17 (Mongolia), joined forces at a high-level event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to advance the global fight against land degradation and drought.

The meeting built on the momentum of COP16 in Riyadh (2024), where nations launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership and pledged over $12 billion.

Looking ahead, COP17 in Ulaanbaatar (2026) will align with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, highlighting ecosystems that cover half of Earth’s surface and support 500 million livelihood.

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Environment, H.E. Osama Faqeeha, emphasized that at COP16, we launched a vision for sustainable land management. Today, we continue that mission with Mongolia and global partners to turn pledges into real-world impact.”

Mongolia’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Battsetseg Batmunkh, echoed this ambition, “This is about building a bridge—connecting ambition to action. Mongolia brings centuries of experience in regenerative agriculture, sustainable grazing, and nature-based solutions.”

She called for innovative financial models, noting that “traditional investment tools are no longer sufficient,” and advocated for results-based financing that delivers measurable impact—such as restored rangelands and improved water retention.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), developed in partnership with Luxembourg, aiming to mobilize private capital for drought-resilient development. Other tools included blended finance models, insurance schemes, and bankable projects to strengthen local economies and restore ecosystems.

Andrea Meza, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNCCD, stressed, “Land restoration is not only an environmental need—it’s a foundation for peace, jobs, and sustainable development.”

Delivering the keynote address, André Hoffmann, Interim Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum, issued a stark warning, “Nature is not just another resource—it’s the foundation of all prosperity. We need a new nature of business, where economies are built on restoration, resilience, and responsibility.”

With nearly 40% of the world’s land degraded and droughts increasing in frequency and intensity, the event convened leaders, ministers, private sector representatives, and international organizations to sustain political momentum and boost financing for land restoration.

Unsustainable food systems are now the leading driver of land degradation, contributing to widespread deforestation and biodiversity loss. Droughts, up by one-third since 2000, now cost the global economy over $307 billion annually. If trends continue, three in four people will face the effects of drought by 2050, with developing countries hit hardest.

Despite the scale of the crisis, private sector contributions to land restoration and drought resilience make up just 6% of global financing—leaving a significant investment gap.