ANALYSIS: COP17: Top issues dividing, shaping ongoing negotiations in Mongolia

Tensions are rising at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as delegates approach the conference's conclusion. The two-week session, themed "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope," has seen significant disagreements emerge over critical agenda items, complicating efforts to reach consensus.

As the conference enters its final 72 hours, discussions are intensifying around land restoration, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and local communities. These groups have voiced concerns about their participation in the formal negotiation process, insisting their perspectives are vital for decisions impacting their livelihoods.

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Land is our most vital infrastructure, underpinning food security, water, livelihoods and stability. When land fails, insecurity rises, through lost livelihoods, forced displacement and increased competition over scarce resources.

The UNCCD COP17 aims to address the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought. Delegates are deliberating on practical, investable solutions, with a particular focus on how restoring degraded land can bolster human and national security in vulnerable regions. The urgency is underscored by the intensifying drought conditions and accelerating land degradation globally.

"Land is our most vital infrastructure, underpinning food security, water, livelihoods and stability. When land fails, insecurity rises," stated UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad. She emphasized that the conference must promote actionable solutions to enable communities to thrive amidst these environmental challenges. Data indicates significant land degradation in various regions, including Nigeria, where over 23% of its land area is affected, impacting rangelands and grazing routes.

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Restoring Land. Restoring Hope is not only an environmental agenda, but a development and resilience priority.