Building drought resilience is not optional for world but matter of survival: India at COP17

Ulaanbaatar:- Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has called for a fundamental shift in the global approach to drought, from reactive relief to proactive, technology-enabled resilience.

Addressing the Ministerial Dialogue on ‘Accelerating Drought Resilience’ at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Yadav said drought is no longer an occasional event but a defining development challenge affecting water security, food systems, biodiversity and economic stability.

The Minister highlighted India’s coordinated approach, integrating early warning, mitigation, relief and community resilience. Rainfall monitoring and satellite-based drought assessments help trigger preparedness measures at the national and State levels.

Emphasising the link between land and water, Yadav stressed the importance of catchment and riverscape forestry, river rejuvenation and restoration of traditional water bodies to reduce erosion, improve water retention and recharge groundwater.

At the Ministerial Dialogue on ‘Accelerating Drought Resilience’ at @UNCCD COP17, HMEFCC Shri @byadavbjp presented India’s approach to building drought resilience.

He highlighted India’s push for a shift from reactive relief to proactive, technology-enabled resilience, supported… pic.twitter.com/GraMYiTj2I

— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) August 25, 2026

He also highlighted community-led restoration of springs and recharge zones in hilly regions and the pan-India watershed programme for degraded rainfed lands. At the household level, drinking water programmes aim to ensure reliable supplies during periods of water stress, particularly in vulnerable areas.

Yadav said crop insurance, technology-driven assessment, watershed development, water harvesting, afforestation, groundwater recharge and climate-resilient crops are key elements of India’s drought resilience strategy. He also stressed the importance of community ownership, capacity building and livelihood diversification.

Calling for stronger global action, the Minister advocated greater investment in ecosystem restoration, stronger early warning systems and coordinated action. He said the goal should be “preparedness over response, prevention over crisis management and resilience over recovery”.

Yadav affirmed India’s readiness to share its knowledge and capacities, including in early warning systems, to help build a drought-resilient future for all.

The Minister said India’s core belief is that “drought must be managed as a predictable, preventable risk, and not a recurring disaster demanding emergency response”.

He highlighted prevention measures including watershed development, water harvesting, afforestation, groundwater recharge and climate-resilient crops, complemented by disaster-related funds, employment guarantees, fodder support and emergency water supplies when required.

Calling for stronger global action, Yadav advocated greater investment in ecosystem restoration, stronger early warning systems and coordinated action. “Preparedness over response, prevention over crisis management, resilience over recovery should be the goal”, he said.