The UN's bi-annual summit on desertification, Cop17, is set to take place in Mongolia, with a focus on allocating over $12 billion to combat drought and land degradation. This summit comes at a critical time as the northern hemisphere experiences record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires, while Asia faces heatwaves affecting millions. The key aim is to put into action the billions of dollars pledged two years ago for projects in developing countries, addressing food security concerns. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), signed in 1992, has historically been the "poor relation" among environmental treaties, but recent developments suggest a shift. Saudi Arabia, a petrostate previously blocking climate action, is now an enthusiastic backer of UNCCD, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars and joining larger groups to offer significant collective pledges. This change in stance is significant, as it indicates a potential shift in global environmental funding. The US, despite withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, remains a member of UNCCD. The summit's central focus is the operationalization of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which aims to provide $12 billion over seven years to 74 drought-stricken countries. However, the amount is considered small compared to the estimated $2.6 trillion needed by the end of the decade to repair degraded land, halt desertification, and protect against drought. Despite this, the pledges represent a major step forward, and there are efforts to raise additional funds from the private sector, involving food companies and other water- and crop-dependent industries. The summit also emphasizes the need for rich countries to recognize the benefits of funding land restoration in poor countries, linking it to national security, food security, and supply chain resilience. As the summit unfolds, it will be crucial to see how these pledges are translated into tangible projects and whether the international community can effectively address the pressing issue of desertification and its global impacts.
