Mongolia will host the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from August 17 to 28, with Saudi Arabia participating on Monday.
According to SPA, Saudi Arabia will hand over the COP presidency to Mongolia. This follows a term that included the implementation of international initiatives and partnerships launched during COP16 in Riyadh.
The Kingdom will highlight progress on the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP), the Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring Initiative, the activation of the Land4Business initiative, and the Riyadh Action Agenda, which grew from 35 to over 100 initiatives. Saudi Arabia will also showcase efforts to promote sustainable solutions to combat desertification, protect natural resources, and expand vegetation cover.
The Kingdom previously hosted COP16 in Riyadh in December 2024, which involved 197 Parties, including 196 countries and the European Union. That session resulted in 39 decisions and the mobilization of more than $12 billion for drought resilience and land restoration.
Saudi Arabia will utilize a national pavilion in the Blue Zone for more than 40 side events and a dedicated pavilion for the Middle East Green Initiative. The Kingdom will also chair the final meeting of the COP Bureau.
When and where is COP17 taking place? COP17, the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), is being hosted by Mongolia. The event is scheduled to take place from August 17 to 28, and Saudi Arabia will participate in the session starting on Monday.
What initiatives will Saudi Arabia highlight during COP17? Saudi Arabia will showcase the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP) and the Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring Initiative. It will also highlight the activation of the Land4Business initiative and the Riyadh Action Agenda, which has expanded from 35 to more than 100 initiatives.
What were the outcomes of COP16 hosted in Riyadh? Hosted in December 2024, COP16 was the largest in the convention’s history with 197 Parties, consisting of the European Union and 196 countries. The session led to the adoption of 39 decisions and the mobilization of over $12 billion to support drought resilience and land restoration.
How will Saudi Arabia be represented at the COP17 conference? The Kingdom will have a national pavilion located in the Blue Zone that will feature more than 40 side events. Additionally, there will be a dedicated pavilion for the Middle East Green Initiative, and Saudi Arabia will chair the final meeting of the COP Bureau.