COP17 ends with new drought resilience tools and $1.3 billion in funding

The seventeenth session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded on Friday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with the launch of new initiatives aimed at strengthening global drought resilience. The 12-day conference, known as COP17, focused on bridging the gap between national plans and on-the-ground implementation.

A key outcome was the creation of the world's first Drought Resilience Index (DRI) and the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF). The DRI is designed to help countries assess their capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought. It uses technical monitoring metrics and AI-powered features to help policymakers, experts, and the public interpret complex data and turn it into practical insights.

The DRIF, launched jointly by UNCCD and Luxembourg, aims to mobilise up to $400 million in public and private capital for drought resilience projects. By using public capital to reduce investment risks, the facility is expected to unlock larger flows of institutional and private finance for initiatives focused on water security, sustainable agriculture, nature-based solutions, and land restoration.

In total, $1.3 billion in new and pipeline finance was announced for land restoration and drought resilience in vulnerable countries, according to UNCCD officials.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said, "We came to Ulaanbaatar saying that COP17 must be a COP of implementation. We leave with more of the architecture needed to make that possible: political decisions, stronger science, innovative financing mechanisms, investment pipelines and partnerships that can move solutions to scale."

The conference took place against a backdrop of severe global land degradation. Up to 40 percent of the world's land is currently degraded, while countries have committed to restoring more than one billion hectares by 2030. India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares as part of this global target. The Indian delegation at COP17 was led by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

The new initiatives are expected to assist countries in identifying vulnerabilities and designing more effective policies and investments. By providing clearer data and financial mechanisms, the UNCCD aims to accelerate progress on drought resilience and land restoration efforts worldwide.