Uzbekistan Attends UNCCD COP17 Summit in Ulaanbaatar
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — An Uzbek delegation led by Obidjon Kudratov, First Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, is attending the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
As a nation affected by land degradation and desertification, particularly in the Aral Sea region, Uzbekistan's participation focuses on executing strategic ecological and socio-economic restoration initiatives.
The opening ceremony featured addresses by Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad, COP16 President Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, and Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkhiin Battsetseg, who was elected COP17 President.
Prime Minister Uchral emphasized the connection between land degradation, food and water security, public health, migration, and economic stability, calling on delegates to accelerate the implementation of previous agreements rather than repeating past declarations.
Executive Secretary Fouad urged participants to translate international commitments into tangible investments and practical field projects. Meanwhile, COP16 President Faqeeha highlighted key priorities including drought resilience, sustainable land management, and international financing mechanisms.
Delegations from 197 parties are participating in the two-week conference alongside representatives from civil society, business, academia, and farming communities. Discussions focus on land restoration, soil health, water resources, pasture management, and financing.
The conference coincides with the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, elevating rangeland ecosystem protection on the global agenda. The Uzbek delegation plans to negotiate key measures on land restoration and desertification during the working sessions.
For additional context on the conference's agenda and global goals, watch UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad's COP17 Message, where she outlines key priorities regarding land restoration and rangelands ahead of the summit.
