As Europe faces another summer of extreme heat, water scarcity and drought, the European Union is calling for stronger global action to restore degraded land, strengthen drought resilience and protect water resources at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17).
Under the theme ‘Restoring Land, Restoring Hope’, COP17 will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026. The conference will bring together governments, scientists, civil society, businesses, Indigenous Peoples and other partners to address the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought.
The urgency is increasingly visible in Europe. Extreme heat and prolonged periods of low rainfall are putting pressure on water supplies, agriculture, energy production, river transport and ecosystems. Europe is warming faster than any other continent, while droughts and water scarcity are increasing the pressure on people, nature and the economy.
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall said: “This summer is another powerful reminder that drought and water scarcity are not distant threats. They are already threatening lives, health, economies and ecosystems in the EU and beyond. We need to move from managing drought emergencies to building resilience before crises hit. Restoring land, protecting ecosystems and managing water sustainably are essential parts of that effort. At UNCCD COP17, the EU will work with our international partners, civil society and the private sector to turn ambition into action and make drought resilience a reality”.
A stronger global response to drought
At COP17, the EU will work with partners to accelerate implementation of the UNCCD by 2030 and beyond, as well as strengthen global ambition on land degradation neutrality and drought resilience.
A key priority will be to shift from a reactive, crisis-based approach to drought towards proactive drought risk management and resilience. This means investing in preparedness, early warning, risk reduction and sustainable land and water management before droughts become humanitarian, economic or environmental crises.
The EU will also seek to strengthen cooperation across the international environmental agenda. 2026 is a pivotal year for multilateral environmental cooperation, bringing together the Conferences of the Parties to the three Rio Conventions – the UNCCD, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – alongside the UN Water Conference.
The EU will use this opportunity to promote stronger synergies across land, water, biodiversity and climate action, recognising that these challenges are deeply interconnected and require joined-up solutions.
The EU will also support a strong implementation framework for the UNCCD beyond 2030, including adequate resources for the Convention’s Secretariat to deliver on decisions agreed by Parties.
From global commitments to action on the ground
Through Global Gateway, the EU is supporting sustainable investments that address land degradation, strengthen livelihoods and build resilience to drought and climate change around the world. At COP17, the EU will showcase progress and impact of key investments – for example in Africa’s Great Green Wall, a major initiative to restore degraded land across the Sahel region. The EU also supports global knowledge, monitoring and early-warning systems, including the use of Copernicus satellite data to track drought conditions worldwide.
To achieve our desertification goals, the EU will continue to support the meaningful participation of civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in UNCCD processes and implementation, as well as stronger gender balance and gender-responsive approaches.
Background
Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, are the greatest challenges to sustainable development. Healthy land underpins food production, biodiversity, water security and livelihoods, while degraded land is more vulnerable to drought, erosion and extreme weather. These changes pose threats and challenges, such as social and political instability, which drives poverty, conflict, and migration.
Established in 1994, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (the UNCCD) is one of the three Rio Conventions – alongside the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted in 1992. With 197 Parties, including the EU and its 27 Member States, it is the principal international framework dedicated to combating desertification, restoring degraded land and mitigating the effects of drought.
The Convention works to improve living conditions in drylands, maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and mitigate the effects of drought. Thirteen EU Member States have declared themselves affected parties under the Convention.
More information:
EU efforts on global desertification and land degradation – Environment
Council Conclusions on 3 Rio Convention COPs
JRC – World Drought Atlas: Global water crisis requires urgent action
Water scarcity and droughts – Environment – European Commission
Combating desertification in the EU: Council urges action for a sustainable future – Consilium
