The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) opened Monday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, bringing together more than 10,000 participants to address desertification, land degradation and drought.

Held under the slogan “Restore the land, restore hope,” the two-week summit includes representatives from the convention’s 197 members, as well as government, business and civil society leaders.

Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral called on countries to move beyond previous commitments and deliver concrete results, noting that about 80% of Mongolia’s territory is already affected by soil degradation. He urged greater investment in land restoration, stronger participation by local communities and pastoralists, and increased use of science and innovation.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad warned that land degradation and drought are already threatening food production, water supplies and economic resilience. She called for COP17 to become an “implementation summit” capable of turning international commitments into measurable results.

The conference will address issues including drought, sand and dust storms, land restoration, financing, food systems, water, migration and land rights. Up to 3.2 billion people are already affected by land degradation, drought and related phenomena, according to the UN.

During the second week, from August 24 to 28, ministers and other senior officials will participate in high-level dialogues and thematic sessions. Negotiators will also seek to finalize a legally binding framework on drought that remained unresolved at the previous COP in Riyadh in 2024.