The UN's bi-annual summit on desertification is taking place in Mongolia, with a focus on allocating over $12 billion to vulnerable countries to combat drought and land degradation. This summit, known as Cop17, is a significant step forward in addressing a critical global issue. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has been a relatively overlooked treaty, but recent developments are changing this. Saudi Arabia, a country previously resistant to climate action, has become an enthusiastic supporter of UNCCD, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars and joining larger groups to offer substantial collective pledges. This shift in stance is crucial, as it indicates a growing recognition of the importance of land degradation and its impact on global food security and climate resilience. The US, despite its withdrawal from the Paris agreement, remains a member of UNCCD, further emphasizing the treaty's importance. The summit's key focus is on the operationalization of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which aims to provide $12 billion over seven years to help 74 countries affected by drought and land degradation. While this amount is substantial, it is still a fraction of the estimated $2.6 trillion needed to address the issue effectively. The summit also highlights the need for private sector involvement, as food and textile companies heavily reliant on water and crops should play a role in funding these initiatives. Lily Maxwell-Lwin, from the Dutch nonprofit Commonland, emphasizes the importance of rich countries recognizing the threat of degraded land to their own food security and supply chain resilience. This summit is a crucial step towards a more sustainable future, but it also raises deeper questions about global cooperation and the role of international organizations in addressing pressing environmental challenges.
