(1st Meeting) 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification - UNCCD COP17

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates, dear guests, the opening ceremony has now come to a close. I now have the honor to invite His Excellency Dr. Osama Ibrahim Fakih, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to take the stage and preside over the next part of the conference.

Please welcome His Excellency, Dr. Osama Ibrahim Fakih.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Your Excellency, Prime Minister of Mongolia, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I declare open the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and call to order its first meeting. I will first deliver a statement in my capacity as president of the 16th session of the conference of the parties.

Your excellency prime minister of the republic of Mongolia Mr. Uchral Nyam-Osor your excellency executive secretary of the UNCCD Dr.

Yasmeen Fouad your excellency foreign minister of Mongolia Batmunkh Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, peace and God's blessings be upon you all.

At the outset, I would like to.

Convey to you the greetings of His Excellency, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, COP16's President, and his wishes for this conference's success. I would like to express my own thanks to the government of Mongolia for the tremendous efforts made in hosting and organizing the 16th COP of the UNCCD. I would like to thank you for the great hospitality. We'd also like to thank the Secretariat of the UNCCD for all the efforts expended to organize and prepare for the agenda of this session as we all wish this session every success and laudable outcomes. I would like here to highlight the importance of this session as it builds on the international momentum that followed the outcomes of COP 16 that was held in Riyadh during the month of December 2024. COP16 was a historic turning point in terms of the participation of a variety of stakeholders and the international momentum that followed in multilateral cooperation and joint efforts to face land degradation, desertification and drought. We focused on water security, food security, biodiversity and adaptation to climate change, as well as social welfare for about half of the world's population. I would like here to reaffirm that COP16 was part of the Saudi Vision 2030 and the importance that it attributes to environmental protection as a key pillar for sustainable development. It is also part of the entrenched conviction in the Kingdom as to the importance of global coordinated action in favor of the environment and its sustainability. This has been embodied by the adoption by the Kingdom of strategies and qualitative initiatives at the national, regional, and international level, and the great attention paid to these questions by the custodian of the two holy mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. This includes the Green Middle East Initiative as well as other environmental initiatives that have been launched as part of the G20 package of initiatives. And as part of our presidency of COP16, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has since the beginning of year 2025, in cooperation with the Secretariat and the Republic of Mongolia and a variety of stakeholders to build further on the global momentum that has been gathered to achieve the various objectives of the UNCCD. This has included the participation of about 50 different global stakeholders, reaching synergies between the three Rio conventions, as well as including the private sector through Business for Land and elevating the executive aspect of the UNCCD through Riyadh Action Agenda, among other initiatives. We have seen about 35 initiatives supporting Riyadh action agenda since its launch in 2024 and that number has increased ever since to be 100 initiatives currently and there's more to come the kingdom has worked towards boosting International cooperation to combat drought through organizing highlevel ministerial dialogues as well as negotiations during cop 16 to increase drought resilience as part of an optimistic pathway to hold various informal dialogues as we prepare to COP17. This is in addition to the launch of the Riyadh Global Partnership with the participation of 24 states and 30 international organizations in the opening conference in Kunming last year. And we have reached $2 billion in pledges out of the package of $12 billion that have been announced in COP16 to ensure better restoration efforts and to combat drought. And we call upon international organizations and other states to join the Global Riyadh Partnership to support drought resilience efforts and to ensure that we are proactive in combating drought, building capacities and ensuring that there are innovative solutions in developing countries that are facing drought. Your Excellency, Prime Minister, distinguished delegates, the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the opening of COP17 is part of our commitment to continue on the path of multilateralism as we face all of the issues linked to desertification, land degradation, drought, food and water insecurity, and to ensure the biodiversity of planet Earth. This requires international cooperation that is done effectively on the basis of solidarity between stakeholders, international organizations, regional and international, as well as the private sector and CSOs. And we look forward to COP17 consolidating the outcomes of COP16 and also ensuring a quantum leap in accelerating the achievement of the objectives of the UNCCD and implementing its resolutions in promoting the sustainable management of land and ensuring a reduction of land degradation and building capabilities in this area in order to ensure better food and water security and better quality of life in societies across the world. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Secretariat of the UNCCD and the representatives of the various regions in the Bureau of COP16, and the heads of delegations and the various committees for their tremendous efforts in cooperating with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during COP16, and we also thank all international regional stakeholders, CSOs and representatives of the private sector who are participating in this session. And we ask the Almighty to help us in every effort that is in favor of humanity and sustainable management and use of natural resources. Peace be upon you all.

I now invite the Conference of the Parties to consider agenda item 1 of the provisional agenda for the session in order to proceed to the election of the President of the seventeenth session. I understand there is a general agreement among the Parties to elect Her Excellency, Basting Patmore. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia to the position of President of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties. May I take, may I take it that the Conference wishes to elect Her Excellency Mrs. Battsetseg Batmakh of Mongolia as President of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties. I hereby, I hear no objection, so it is so decided.

On.

Behalf of the conference, I wish to congratulate her excellency, Mrs. Batmon on her election and invite her to take her seat at the podium.

Excellencies distinguished delegates ladies and gentlemen I'm honored to have been elected president of the 17th session of the conference of the parties to the United Nations convention to combat desertification and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the parties for their confident bestowed in me I will now deliver a statement in my capacity as president Your Excellency, Dr. Osama Ibrahim Fakiha, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of UNCCD COP16. Excellencies, Dr. Yasmin Foudh, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, It is a profound honor and privilege to assume the presidency of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. This morning Mongolia has welcomed us with gentle and favorable weather. In our tradition, fair weather at the beginning of an important undertaking is regarded as an auspicious sign. May this spirit of promise accompany our deliberations throughout the conference as we unite around a shared purpose and a common responsibility to protect our land, restore degraded ecosystems, and build a more resilient and sustainable future for present and future generations. It is a source of great pride for Mongolia to host for the first time a conference of the parties to the United Nations Convention. We are especially honored that this historic occasion is taking place under the auspices of the UNCCD, a convention of profound relevance to Mongolia, where the effects of desertification, land degradation and drought are a lived and urgent reality. I'm deeply encouraged to see gathered here under one roof representatives of governments, international organizations, the scientific community, civil society, the private sector, youth and local communities, pastoralists and many other stakeholders. We come from different regions and traditions. Yet we are united by our care for the earth and by our determination to restore the land on which all life depends. I accept the mandate of the presidency with humility and a deep sense of responsibility. And assuming this role, I do so in the service of all parties. Mongolia will work to ensure that the proceedings of the conference are conducted smoothly, inclusively and transparently. We will listen with respect, facilitate dialogue with impartiality and work tirelessly to build bridges toward consensus. We will strive to create an environment in which every voice can be heard, Every perspective can be considered, and every delegation can contribute meaningfully to our shared endeavor. The strength of multilateralism lies not in the absence of differences, but in our ability to overcome them through dialogue and to transform common purpose into collective action. Let us work together not only to restore land, but also to restore hope. Our efforts to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought are ultimately an expression of hope. Hope for future in which people live in harmony with nature. Communities enjoy secure and dignified livelihoods. Soils, forests, grasslands, and water systems are protected. and our children inherit the planet capable of sustaining and nurturing them. Land restoration is far more than an environmental objective. It is an investment in people, prosperity, resilience, and peace. Mongolia has consistently pursued a multi-pillar foreign policy founded on peace, dialogue, cooperation, mutual respect and multilateralism. We believe in constructive engagement, peaceful cooperation, and the patient work of building bridges among nations. Our foreign policy is guided by a simple conviction. Challenges that transcend national borders can be addressed only through cooperation that transcends those same borders. Multilateral institutions therefore remain indispensable to finding solutions that are equitable, lasting and shared. Land degradation and desertification recognize no political boundaries. Their consequences travel across borders, affect economies and livelihoods, intensify food and water insecurity and place the stability of entire communities at risk. COP17 therefore presents us with an opportunity to demonstrate international cooperation at its best, to place science and technology at the service of people, advance practical and scalable solutions, mobilize the necessary resources, and renew our collective commitment to the effective implementation of the Convention. For centuries, Mongolia's nomadic civilization has been shaped by an intimate relationship with the living landscape, with its pastures, forests, rivers, water sources, and the wider natural environment. to live from the land has always meant accepting a responsibility to care for it. Today, Mongolia is contributing to global efforts through national initiatives aimed at protecting ecosystems, combating desertification, restoring degraded land, strengthening food security, and increasing the resilience of our people and communities. The Billion Trees National Movement, the Food Revolution, White Gold, and Unlock initiatives launched by the President and the Prime Minister of Mongolia, together with the recently adopted law on climate change, are tangible expressions of this national commitment. At the multilateral level, Mongolia initiated the United Nations General Assembly resolution proclaiming 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. This represents an important milestone in recognizing the global value of healthy rangelands, advancing their sustainable management and restoration, and honoring the knowledge, livelihoods, and contribution of pastoralists around the world. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, The responsibility before us is great, but so too is the opportunity. The success of this conference will be measured not simply by the number of decisions we adopt, but by the difference those decisions make to their land, to communities, and to the generations that follow us. I warmly welcome you all to COP17. I look forward to fruitful deliberations, constructive negotiations and above all, an ambitious, balanced and meaningful outcome shaped by all parties and serving the interests of all. Let us restore land, let us renew hope and let us move forward together. I thank you. Now, I invite the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Ms. Yasmin Foudh, to deliver welcoming remarks.

Good morning again. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, partners, and friends, allow me at the outset officially to express my deepest appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their extraordinary leadership during COP16 presidency. Under their leadership, the convention reached important milestones and the global land and drought agenda was elevated to a new political heights. With many initiatives, including but not limited to Riyadh Land Action Agenda, Global Riyadh Resilience Partnership, both that focused on land restoration and drought resilience, Saudi Arabia has helped shape the next chapter of the convention. And today, we carry this legacy from Riyadh to Ulaanbaatar here in Mongolia. also allow me to reiterate my thanks and appreciation to the government of Mongolia under the leadership of the president of Mongolia, the cabinet, as well as the people of Mongolia for taking this responsibility and bringing us here together under the theme of restoring land, restoring hope. And by taking that in that critical time, It shows to the world that Mongolia is leading on strengthening multilateral commitment, stronger action, and greater resilience as well as hope. My last thanks would go to my colleagues at the UNCCD Secretariat for all their efforts to bring us here today. We will continue together over the next two weeks to serve all parties. Excellencies, this conference convenes at a very defining moment. I'd like to bring here the issue of drought. This summer, we saw across different parts of the world, also in Europe, how drought has disrupted river transport, how strained energy production, it's reduced agricultural yield. and induced wildfire with losses of lives. Similar stories are there around different parts of the world that we never thought that it would come to these parts. This message is clear, drought is no more an environmental part and it's not about the absence of rain or a geographical environmental issue, it is a systemic risk to food and water security, to international commerce, to energy supply, to livelihood, and simply to stability and prosperity. If we would got into the numbers, we would find that 3.2 billion people are affected by desertification, land degradation, and droughts. Countries have already committed to the one billion hectare by 2030, And more than 70 countries had submitted already their drought management plans. So we're not starting from scratch. More than 100 countries would like to translate those land plans into actual projects, investable projects with the potential of a $2 billion USD. More than 300 businesses are already engaging with us here and within the Business for Land initiative. that the foundation is there. And the challenge that we're having today is to replicate and upscale. COP17 must be the COP for delivery. It should be the COP for implementation. How can we define implementation? Implementation is simply, as we heard today, the Prime Minister of the government of Mongolia, and as we heard through the COP president 16 and incoming COP president 17, that it is a people-centered, that would guarantee water and food, guarantee healthy ecosystem and livelihood for communities that would like to strive. And from those people would find the different caucus in our process, the indigenous people, the local community, the gender caucus, all these are voices that should be part because they're part of the problem. They're definitely their traditional knowledge and their expertise can really make the implementation happen and happen really quickly. The second topic here is rangeland. covering more than half of the earth's land surface and supporting more than two billion people. Today in the parade we saw more than 100 countries pastoralists representing 500,000 people and they submitted their declaration, their voice and their needs. And they say it out clearly, rangeland is the reason for our survival. And it is the thing that brings us food, and it is the thing that let that world continue to survive. We will succeed together to make rangeland and desert more visible. Here in Mongolia, we have a golden opportunity to make them a global policy and investment priority because policies without finance, without actual action on the ground will simply hinder that process. Accessible finance as the third one for sustainable land management has proven that 7 to $30, $7 to $30 for every dollar that is invested could be a return. We want to make sure that this is happening in this COP with different mechanisms that could be tested and piloted. We already see the shift here through three different mechanisms. Riyadh Global Drought Resilient Partnership is in the process of mobilizing the financial and technical resources to support the 70 plus vulnerable countries under drought plans. The Drought Resilient Investment Facility has already identified its fund manager in order to de-risk the capital of the private sector to invest in mitigation of drought. We must also recognize that this makes the link between land, water, food, livelihood, and stability. The last I would like to say here, when land degrades, the livelihoods weaken, and when the livelihood weakens, we have more vulnerability. And this would increase more pressure on human mobility and intensify the competition over the natural resources. In that context, we must recognize that behind each human mobility story is a land story, a story of drought, a story of degradation, and a story of desertification. And that would mean we will need to strive together in order to reduce migration and force stability. This is why restoring land would be the preventive action for prosperity and stability and security around the world. Excellencies, the political transition in COP17 is clear. We'll move from the commitments to implementation, from projects level to investment, from vulnerability to resilience. and from a package that only focuses on environment action to a package that focuses on development and stability. Let this conference with a very strong start demonstrate that multilateral system delivers not only decisions or political declaration, but actions. That multilateral system can move from ambitious words to investment. It can restore landscape and by doing so, restoring livelihood, making community more resilient and fostering greater stability. We at the UNCCD international community already have the enabling condition. We have the knowledge and we have the technology. We already had tested the projects and the partnerships and the financial tool. Our task over the next two weeks is to connect a bold political will to make the multilateral system work and alive through consensus and move that in order to accelerate implementation at scale and on the ground. Let us restore land and let us leave here by the end of August. joining together a world of we were able to restore hope for our future generations. Thank you.

I thank the executive secretary of the United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification.

Now, I invite the conference to hear brief opening statements from representatives of regional and interest groups, as well as from representatives speaking on behalf of civil society. I give the floor to the representative of Cote d'Ivoire on behalf of the group of African states. What did you want? You have the floor.

Madam President of the Conference of the Parties, Madam Executive Secretary of the Convention, distinguished members of international institutions, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour to speak on behalf of the African Group. At the outset, we express our sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Mongolia for their warm hospitality and the excellent organisation of this seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties. We congratulate the President of COP17 on her appointment and assure her of our full cooperation in order that this conference may lead to ambitious results with tangible impacts. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, under the topic Restoring Land, Restoring Hope, this session is of particular significance to the African group because our continent needs this hope for the restoration of its lands that have been sorely tried by desertification. Our work will be guided by the following interrelated priorities. Drought, the future post 2030 strategic framework, We welcome the participation of civil society. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the African Group commends the efforts since COP16 to maintain the international momentum on drought, including through IDRA and the Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience. The African Group calls for an international agreement to strengthen cooperation in the face of drought. using appropriate technical and financial means. For Africa, investing in drought resilience is not just an environmental response. It is an investment in food security, sustainable management of land and water resources, territorial stability, security, peace and sustainable development. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the African Group suggests the continuation of the intergovernmental working group on the future post-2030 strategic framework with clearer terms of reference. The African Group is committed to the effective implementation of the Convention's gender action plan, the empowerment and engagement of women and young people, the secure access to land resources, Their full participation in decision-making processes are essential conditions for building sustainable, inclusive resilience. Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening financial resources to enable the Convention, its secretariat, and others to respond effectively to expectations. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the African Group approaches this COP in a spirit of openness, responsibility and dialogue, convinced that the success of this COP will depend on our collective ability to turn our commitments into concrete actions and build solutions based on solidarity, trust and shared responsibility. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Cote d'Ivoire on behalf of the group of African states. I give the floor to the representative of India on behalf of the group of Asia Pacific states.

Floor is yours.

Madam President, Executive Secretary, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group and as regional chair India, it is an honor to address the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. We extend our profound appreciation to the Government and the people of Mongolia for hosting COP17 and for welcoming the Convention to a country whose landscapes, communities and traditions embody both the urgency of our task and the possibility of renewal. We thank the COP16 Presidency, the UNCCD Secretariat, the Global Mechanism and all partners whose work has brought us together. We also acknowledge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its leadership as President of COP16, for the Riyadh Action Agenda and the initiatives advanced during its Presidency, and for its continued efforts to build trust and consensus among Parties. Excellencies, we meet at a moment when the world for which this Convention was designed is changing faster than the systems established to protect and restore it. Across Asia and the Pacific, from high mountains to the low-lying islands, from hyper-arid deserts and vast rangelands to forests, agricultural plains and coastal mangrove and marine ecosystems, land and water pressures are intensifying. Desertification, land degradation and drought are converging with climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and coastal and soil erosion. Sand and dust storms cross borders, food and water insecurity deepen, livelihoods are disrupted, communities are displaced, and development gains are placed at risk. In parts of our region, conflict and war compound our pressures and weaken the capacity of people and institutions to reduce land degradation. These are not separate crises arriving one by one. They demand a convention able to see the challenges as a whole, a convention capable of adapting decisions and turning decisions into results and actions. Above all, they demand that COP17 send a strengthening the convention for a better future. That is the single political task before us. A stronger convention is not one that continually expands its agenda, but one that delivers. Clear in purpose, grounded in science, evidence-based policy solutions and technology, responsive to regional realities, and equipped with adequate capacity and resources. Its success must be measured by reduced land degradation, desertification and drought losses, restored soil and ecosystems and more resilient communities. For the Asia-Pacific Group, continuing the work to develop the post-2030 future strategic framework is therefore the central political issue of COP17. It must learn from implementation and the midterm evaluation of the current UNCCD 2018-2030 strategic framework. close the gap between ambition and delivery and establish practical, measurable and strategic objectives. It should complement the SDGs, the climate and biodiversity agendas and global forest goals without duplicating processes or increasing reporting burdens while preserving flexibility for diverse national circumstances. We thank the Asia-Pacific regional representatives, China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, for representing our region in the intergovernmental working group, for their participation and valuable contribution to develop the proposed vision and key elements of the post-2030 future strategic framework. The new framework must recognize the conventions, two fundamental pillars, desertification and land degradation and drought. These should be distinct, parallel, and mutually reinforcing top level pillars, each supported by adequate political attention, institutional capacity, and implementation pathways and resources. If drought remains structurally subordinate, the global response will remain inadequate. A stronger drought pillar must shift action from crisis response to proactive risk management through national drought plans, monitoring and early warning systems, vulnerability assessments, preparedness, resilient land and water management, early action, regional cooperation and sustained financing. The Asia-Pacific Group reiterates the call for a global SIDS initiative on drought to strengthen drought resilience in the small island developing states to achieve this shift. Madam President, the Asia-Pacific Group will engage constructively in the drought negotiations and we call on COP17 to agree on a decision on drought to help secure an ambitious, balanced, practical and durable outcome that responds to the needs of all regions. We should build on the work done at COP16 and start our work here at COP17 on the foundation of COP16 procedural drought decision. We would like to see an outcome on drought that is workable for all parties and help countries prepare for drought through proactive drought resilience measures or action. The Asia Pacific Group is of the view that the outcome is not prescriptive but tailored to the specific context of drought in each country. A one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate due to differences in resources, conditions, rules and regulations, and the implementation should take into account diverse national circumstances and capacities, particularly in drought-affected developing countries. Success will be measured not by labels, but by strong action on the ground that protects people, livelihood, and ecosystems. The group considers that monitoring and reporting on LDN and other initiatives launched is an important element of the UNCCD achievement indicators. It is the first occasion that UNCCD nominated different institutions that support hubs for UNCCD 26 national reporting process. While acknowledging the efforts being made on the support hubs, the region calls for parties to consider continuity of this initiative. Furthermore, the region considers that the monitoring framework needs to be reviewed to find solutions for further depicting the conditions of land degradation suited to different environmental conditions of the member states. Distinguished delegates, a stronger convention also requires a balanced and adequately resourced program of work. The Asia Pacific group supports cost effective budget decisions that enables the secretariat, the global mechanism, the regional coordination mechanism, and the convention subsidiary bodies to fulfill the mandates entrusted to them. Sand and dust storms continue to be a serious multidimensional and transboundary hazard affecting health, agriculture, transport, economic productivity and ecosystems throughout our region and beyond. Practical science-based implementation through strengthening, continuous monitoring and early warning system, source management, enhanced global and regional cooperation, investment and sustained international support is needed. We welcome the international early warning for sand and dust storms initiative being advanced through the World Meteorological Organization and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's pledge of USD 10 million over five years to the associated trust fund and we encourage further voluntary contributions. In this Rio trio year, we support stronger and more coherent relationship with other Rio conventions and relevant international organizations. But systemic synergistic solutions must be practical. They should reduce duplication and maximize impact. Madam President and Excellencies, the Asia Pacific Group reaffirms its strong commitment to multilateral cooperation and to the effective implementation of the convention. We come to COP17 ready to engage. We'll be constructive because consensus is essential. We'll be ambitious because incremental change is no longer sufficient. will be practical because ambition without implementation serves no one. The next strategic era of this convention must be capable of responding to the world that is emerging so that we can build a stronger convention for this changing world. Thank you, Chair.

I thank you, the representative of India, on behalf of the group of Asia-Pacific states. And now I give the floor to the representative of Paraguay on behalf of the group of Latin American and Caribbean states.

Please.

Thank you, President.

Distinguished delegates. The Latin American Caribbean group expresses sincere appreciation to the people and government of Mongolia for their warm hospitality and together with the UNCCD Secretariat for the excellent organization of this COP 17. GRULAC reaffirms its strong commitment to the effective implementation of the Convention and to strengthening action to combat desertification, land degradation and drought. We also recognize the support of international agencies and organizations such as FAO, UNEP-GEF and PSR. ISLM for the natural reporting process and encourage the strengthening of this cooperation. These challenges are closely linked to sustainable development, food security, climate resilience and the well-being of our communities. We reiterate the need for systemic approaches that restore the health and integrity of ecosystems and advance towards more harmonious coexistence with nature. Our region has made important progress in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. Several countries have established voluntary land degradation neutrality targets, strengthening their institutional frameworks and promoting successful experiences in sustainable land and range land management, many of them based on traditional and scientific knowledge and often led by local communities. We have also strengthened South-South cooperation and the participation of diverse stakeholders in decision-making. We welcome with interest the work on the future strategic framework of the Convention and support the development of a results-oriented post-2030 framework grounded in scientific evidence, adapted to national circumstances and supported by robust indicators. strengthened national capacities and adequate means of implementation. We also reiterate the importance of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Considering the findings of the global mechanism regarding the substantial gaps in funding availability and resource mobilization, financing remains a fundamental pillar. Financial needs assessments reveal significant gaps. We value international regional cooperation initiatives that contribute to expanding financing flows for the implementation of the Convention. We also urge developed countries to fulfil their obligations under Articles 6 and 20 of the Convention. We promote South-South and regional cooperation as a mechanism for sharing experiences, capacities and solutions. We highlight the fundamental role of women, indigenous peoples, local communities, youth and civil society in the implementation of the Convention. Their full and effective participation, respect for their rights and recognition of their knowledge are essential to the success of our actions. We also reaffirm the need to address in an integrated manner the links between desertification, drought, land degradation, poverty, hunger, inequality and migration. We further recognize the growing threat posed by extreme natural phenomena, including sand and dust storms, wildfires, El Nino or ENSO, and underscore the need to address them through preventive and integrated approaches that strengthen the resilience of affected communities and ecosystems. In this context, we emphasize the importance of mitigating the effects of drought and combating desertification and land degradation, strengthening early warning and monitoring systems, promoting knowledge exchange and international and regional cooperation on the basis of scientific, traditional and local knowledge, as well as strengthening synergies among the three Rio Conventions. Madam President, distinguished delegates, Grew like comes to this cop 17 in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, convinced that multilateralism is the path to addressing our common challenges. We're ready to continue moving forward with our indigenous peoples, local communities, women, youth, and civil society as key actors to build a future in harmony with nature and as a legacy for future generations. Thank you.

I think they are representative of Paraguay on behalf of the group of Latin American and Caribbean states. Now I give the floor to the European Union, please.

Madam President, excellencies, distinguished delegates and representatives, It is my great honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its 27 member states. We would first like to express our gratitude to the authorities and the people of Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar for hosting the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and all the great efforts made to organize this conference. Madam President, the theme of this COP, Restoring Land, Restoring Hope, underscores the pressing urgency of taking action to combat desertification, land degradation and drought, recognising that people are at the heart of sustainable land management and play a critical role in preventing, halting and reversing land degradation through their knowledge, stewardship and both individual and collective action. The EU and its member states would like to highlight the opportunity presented by the triple COP semester with the COPs of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the UN Water Conference, all taking place later this year. It is our common interest that these and other multilateral environmental agreements, without neglecting their specifics, mutually support each other. Measures, plans and practices that target these challenges simultaneously offer an opportunity to improve policy coherence. This synergistic approach is a necessary step to addressing in an effective, efficient and mutually reinforcing way the intersecting environmental crises facing the global community while avoiding competition or duplication between efforts. We welcome the opportunity at COP17 to discuss the progress made by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework and its final report. It is vital that the convention is equipped with a framework that supports effective delivery of its objectives by parties and other institutions after 2030. Finance is one part of this, and as the Global Land Outlook concludes, redirecting finance matters as much as increasing finance. We should therefore address both the future financing of the convention and the progressive elimination, phasing out or repurposing of environmentally harmful subsidies contributing to DLDD. We will work with the conviction that COP17 will draw significant attention from the global community to the growing challenge of drought. Drought risks are globally widespread, exacerbated by climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable land and water management practices, affecting particularly the most vulnerable members of our societies. We look forward to the outcomes of discussions at this COP, particularly on addressing the underlying systemic drivers of drought, enhancing societal and ecosystem resilience, and by fostering the proactive management of drought's impacts. We expect that this COP will strengthen the focus on thematic issues relating to the enabling environment for sustainable land and drought management. This includes securing land tenure, access and rights to land and water for all, strengthening gender responsiveness and equality to advance the implementation of the Gender Action Plan, and to achieve the empowerment of all women and girls, and addressing the root causes of migration and forced displacements driven by DLDD. We also welcome the focus brought by COP17 on the special vulnerabilities of indigenous peoples and local communities, rangelands and pastoralist communities. The UNCCD programmes and actions should further integrate comprehensive and cross-cutting solutions. We need to foster a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention. It is essential to strengthen partnerships and engage a diverse array of stakeholders including the private sector, civil society organizations, children and youth, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and girls, persons with disabilities and disadvantaged groups across all levels from community and local to regional, national and global scales, while also valorizing local and traditional knowledge. As we address the urgent challenges of DLDD, it is essential to highlight the EU's commitment to promote, support and adopt transformative action in land management. The impacts of DLDD are increasingly experienced across the territory of the EU. At the same time, the EU and its member states are and will remain a major donor of official development aid to address DLDD. By striving for land degradation neutrality by 2030, we aim to restore ecosystems, enhance food and water security, and support the livelihoods of people, particularly for those in vulnerable situations, including through adopting nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches. This effort requires ownership, innovative and local approaches, building on the experience in the field, and based where appropriate on the implementation of the agroecology practices and principles. We welcome the conclusion of the negotiations of the ninth replenishment of the GEF, and we note the current replenishment level of 3.9 billion USD. We encourage all participants in a position to do so to contribute to GFD9. In addition, we invite all parties to develop sound resource mobilization strategies, including international and domestic financial resources from public and private sources. We encourage all parties to assess the redirection of environmentally harmful subsidies and public expenditures contributing to DLDD to support sustainable land management and land restoration. Our work must also maintain the central role of science in the UNCCD, continuing to improve the support provided by science policy interface and enhancing the collaboration with other scientific bodies. Madam President, the EU and its member states are deeply committed to collaborating with all parties and stakeholders. We look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions together to overcome these challenges, identify sustainable and shared solutions, and create new opportunities for affected people and communities in the fight against desertification, land degradation, and drought. And in the first principal language of my native country, Thank you.

I thank the European Union. I give the floor to the representative of Spain on behalf of the regional implementation annex for the northern Mediterranean, annex four.

Buenos dias.

Good morning and thank you very much for giving me the floor. This statement will be delivered in the language in which it was drafted.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates and representatives. It is an honor to speak on behalf of Annex IV, the Northern Mediterranean Region and its 13 affected country parties. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the government of Mongolia, the people of Ulaanbaatar and the UNCCD Secretariat for the generous hospitality in hosting this event. The theme, Restoring Land, Restoring Hope, speaks directly to our region. Desertification, land degradation and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges faced by our countries, and climate change is amplifying them. For this reason, our work stays more than over anchored in the sustainable development goal 15.3 and in the pursuit of land degradation neutrality. As the 2018-2030 strategic framework approaches the end of its cycle, we attach great importance to the development of a future strategic framework that is ambitious. building on the achievements and experiences of the current one. For our region, this means ensuring proper representation of our regional circumstances and providing practical tools and capacity building. Besides defining new ambitions, our priority should also focus on strengthening implementation on the ground, through adequate financing, scientific cooperation, and effective monitoring. Delivery tangible results for affected communities must remain at the heart of our work. In the Northern Mediterranean region, drought is increasingly threatening our ecosystems, our economies, and our livelihoods. deepening social inequalities and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable people. We recognize the importance of a discussion on drought at this session, and we are confident that it will deliver results toward proactive approaches and integrating management that will strengthen global drought resilience. We see real value in facing practical and technical cooperation to meet the needs of effective parties on the ground. Investing in sustainable land management, land restoration and drought resilience is not an environment imperative, but also key for building resilient economies, as well as food and water security. In this regard, nature-based solution and ecosystem-based approaches are among our strongest allies, but they require integrated policies, inclusive participation, and sustained investment across sectors. In this regard, we highlight the importance of further engaging the private sector, and we celebrate the developments of the Business for Land initiative. We commend the continuing improvement of the UNCC reporting process and the praise for platform, and we encourage further investment in data quality and in the national capacities. Reliable data is essential for informed decision making while also facilitating early warning practices. The voluntary land degradation neutrality targets remain an important cornerstone of the implementation, and we call for continued support to the LDN target setting programme. We reaffirm that science must stay at the heart of the Convention. We support the strengthening of the work of the Committee on Science and Technology and the Science-Policy Interface, so that land restoration and drought management rest on the best available evidence. We call for a strengthened cooperation among the scientific bodies and the science policy interfaces of the Rio Conventions. We underline that a whole of society approach is crucial for the effective implementation of the Convention, as well as warranting secure land tenure rights. We support inclusive participation that brings all relevant stakeholders together. We would also like to emphasize the essential role that women and girls play in this Convention and therefore our commitment to the Gender Action Plan and its roadmap. We encourage Parties to maintain a high level of ambition in this regard. COP17 marked the start of a pivotal six-month period during which the Conference of the Parties to the three Rio Conventions will convene alongside the UN Water Conference. This sequence provides a timely opportunity for COP17 to send a strong signal to strengthen synergies. Water availability and land health are inseparable. healthy land and ecosystem, haze water retention and reduce the impacts of drought and floods. This COP is about land and resilient land is the foundation that should serve as a bridge between the conventions, ensuring that sustainable land management, climate action and biodiversity conservation are planned and implemented together rather than in isolation. This conference reminds us that land is above all a living heritage we hold in common. Pastoralists in the northern Mediterranean, as in Mongolia, have moved for generations with their herds along ancient transhumance routes. Grazing has traditionally played a role in creating mosaic landscapes that are more resilient to wildfires and drought. Supporting the role of pastoralist communities is therefore investing in our future, sustainably managed ranching, protect biodiversity and store carbon in the soil, illustrating once again the alignment of the objectives of the three Rio Conventions. To conclude, the challenges before us are considerable, but our commitment is firm. The Northern Mediterranean region is ready to contribute to the success of this COP. It is only by working together in a spirit of cooperation and shared commitment that this session can achieve lasting results and make a difference. Let us restore land and restore hope together. Thank you for your attention and we wish all a productive and successful session. Thank you so much.

I thank the representative of Spain on behalf of the regional implementation annex for the nothing Mediterranean annex four. Now I give the floor to the representative of Egypt on behalf of the League of.

Arab states.

In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful, Madam President, Madam Executive Secretary of the UN CCD, your Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to speak before you today on behalf of the League of Arab States. I would like to thank Mongolia, its government, its authorities and its people for the great organization and wish the Mongolian presidency every success in this COP17. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Fouad, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, and we wish her every success in her mission. We'd also like to express our appreciation for Brahim Siou, the outgoing Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, for all the achievements that have been registered during his tenure. We'd also like to express our respect and thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continued support to the UNCCD and for all the achievements that have been made during COP16, which we still feel today. Ladies and gentlemen, the issues of desertification, land degradation and drought have become challenges to water security, food security and social stability, as well as international peace and security, not just environmental issues. This is why we must put our hands together to build our capacity to ensure drought resilience and sustainable development. The Arab League reaffirms that. Environmental justice hinges on the sovereignty of states when it comes to their natural resources and management at the service of sustainable development based on international cooperation, international law. Here the Arab League pays particular attention to water security, particularly that a number of countries in the region rely on transboundary waters. We reaffirm here that fair and just management of these water resources must be based on international law and the fair usage and no harm done in such a way as to promote stability and international cooperation and steer away from crises and conflict. Food security and water security should not be a realm where there is collective punishment and protecting water infrastructure and ensuring that food reaches populations are ethical and legal responsibilities that should be shouldered by the international community. Self-sufficiency is one of the priorities of the Arab League, and we look forward to COP17 leading to a historic agreement when it comes to a global framework on drought resilience with objectives that are ambitious. including technological transfer, financing, capacity building and supporting the most vulnerable nations in front of drought to ensure that they are more resilient and able to be able to confront the woes of drought. The Arab group reaffirms that the success of the UNCCD hinges on the adequate financing and access to technology and support of innovation and science, including synergies between the three Rio conventions in such a way as to ensure alignment in objectives linked to climate change, biodiversity and combating desertification, land degradation and drought. The Arab Group expresses its full support to the secretariat of the UNCCD as it tries to mobilize sources of financing in such a way as to achieve the goals of the UNCCD. Ladies and gentlemen, we look forward to the outcomes of COP17 as we plan for COP18 that will be held in Egypt. And we look forward to reaching a milestone moving from negotiation to implementation, from pledges to effective investments on the ground. The Arab Group reiterates its willingness to work with all stakeholders with the spirit of partnership and cooperation to achieve the objectives of the convention and reach a fairer and more sustainable future for all. In conclusion, protecting the land starts with protecting humans and environmental protection and security goes hand in hand with water and food security, international solidarity and adopting a global framework that is effective to ensure resilience in the face of drought are all key pillars towards a more sustainable world that achieves welfare for all our peoples without exclusion or marginalization. COP17 should be a turning point for all of us that reaffirms that cooperation is stronger than division and that political will is able to turn challenges into opportunities for a more sustainable planet and populations that are more capable of enjoying welfare and prosperity. Thank you.

And to Egypt on behalf of the League of Arab States.

I give the

floor to the representative of Azerbaijan on behalf of the regional implementation annex for Central and Western Europe annex five.

Madam Chair, Executive Secretary, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of the Regional Implementation Annex for Central and Eastern Europe, I am pleased to address the opening of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. At the outset, allow me to express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Mongolia for their warm hospitality and for hosting this important session in Ulaanbaatar, as well as the UNCCD Secretariat for organization of this session. The theme of this COP, Restoring Land, Restoring Hope, carries a powerful message. Land restoration is not only an environmental objective. It's about protecting livelihoods, strengthening food security and water availability, enhancing resilience, reducing poverty, inequality, and building more stable and sustainable societies. The challenges becoming increasingly interconnected. Land degradation, drought, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and climate change are mutually reinforcing. At the same time, these challenges are increasingly linked to food security, migration, and socioeconomic stability. The Annex V is experiencing these pressures firsthand across the wide diversity of climatic and ecological conditions. The changing precipitation patterns Increasing frequency and severity of drought, water stress, soil degradation and extreme weather events are placing additional pressure on ecosystem, agriculture and rural communities. We therefore consider proactive drought management, preparedness and resilience to be among the most important priorities of the Convention. Drought must not be addressed only after its impacts have materialized. Early warning system, risk assessment, preparedness, anticipatory action, resilient water and land management and adequate financing should form an integral part of our approach, with particular attention to translating drought policies and national drought plans into effective implementation on the ground. In this regard, we welcome the attention given by the COP17 to drought resilience and policy advocacy, as well as the progress made since COP16 through the TAFAL process, which has helped maintain dialogue among parties and clarify areas of the convergence and remaining issues related to drought governance, financing and institutional pathways. We encourage parties to build on this progress by strengthening international cooperation and supporting the translation of the national drought plans into investment strategies, programs and projects with adequate capacity building, technical assistance and accessible financing while ensuring drought policies are adopted to national and regional circumstances. We also address great important effective implementation of UNCCD 2018-2030 strategic framework. COP17 provides an important opportunity to assess the progress, identify remaining implementation gaps and strengthen the Convention's capacity to deliver tangible results on the ground. As we look forward to the future strategic direction of the Convention, we believe that the UNCCD should remain ambitious, science-based, inclusive and responsive to emerging challenges. The Convention should continue to strengthen synergies with other Rio Conventions, the Sustainable Development Goals and other relevant international frameworks. In this context, The objective of the land degradation neutrality remains an essential reference point. We encourage parties to accelerate the implementation of national LDN targets and to strengthen the restoration, sustainable management and conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, taking into account the diversity of ecosystems and national circumstances. The region also welcomes the progress achieved through the decision 7 slash COP dot 16 which recognized that desertification, land degradation and drought affect everyone and noted that a significant proportion of land degradation occurs beyond arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. We support further efforts to better integrate the national circumstances, actions and needs of the parties categorized as non-affected into UNCCD process, including through the future reporting cycles and encourage COP17 to advance the broader discussion and reaffirm the global role and importance of the convention. The region further welcomes the increased attention at this COP to the rangelands and the pastoralist communities. The sustainable management and restoration of the rangelands is essential for biodiversity, food security, livelihood, and climate resilience. The International Year of the Rangelands and Pastoralists provide a timely opportunity to raise political attention and translate commitments into concrete action. We also recognize the importance of land tenure and secure access to land as enabling conditions for sustainable land management. Clear and equitable land tenure systems can strengthen long-term investment in land restoration and improve the resilience of local communities. The link between land degradation, drought and migration also deserves greater attention. We support an approach that focuses on prevention and resilience by addressing the environmental and socio-economic drivers that may contribute to this displacement and migration. We further recognise that need to strengthen the role of CSO, women, youth, local communities and other relevant stakeholders in land restoration and drought resilience. Their knowledge, participation and capacity are indispensable for ensuring that policies are effectively translated into action at the local level. Science, technology, innovation and knowledge sharing must remain at the center of our efforts. We encourage stronger science policy interfaces, improved access to technologies and data, and greater exchange of regional experience, particularly in the area related drought management, monitoring, early warning, land restoration, and sustainable land management. Finance remains a critical enabling actor. Ambitious commitment must be matched by predictable, adequate, and accessible resources. We therefore welcome the focus of the COP17 on innovative financial mechanisms and encourage the mobilization of public and private finance, including through partnership with the multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and private sector, particularly to help countries translate in national drought plans, LDM targets and restoration priorities into concrete investment ready programs and projects. We believe that the land restoration should increasingly be recognized not only as an environmental investment, but also as an investment in economic resilience, food security, water availability, sustainable rural development. The annex five stands ready to contribute these efforts. As annex, we will continue to promote regional cooperation, exchange of experience and coordinated action while ensuring that the priorities and circumstances of our region are adequately reflected in this work of the framework. Madam President, the decision we take in Ulaanbaatar should have bridged the gap between international communities and action on the ground. We should lead this COP with a strengthened political commitment, enhanced cooperation and practical solution capable of accelerating land restoration and building drought resilient societies. Let's therefore make restoring land, restoring hope, not only the team of this COP, but a shared commitment to concrete action. I thank you for your attention.

I thank the representative of Azerbaijan on behalf of the regional implementation annex for Central and Eastern Europe, annex five. Now I give the floor to Ms. Onon Sadov from the Mongolian Association of Elderly People.

Madam President, distinguished delegates, on behalf of civil society and indigenous people, we welcome the opportunity to contribute to COP17 at a time when land degradation, desertification and drought are increasingly affecting communities worldwide. We are concerned that land degradation continues to worsen, compounded by conflict, land loss, climate change, and setbacks in human rights and the rights of nature, further challenging progress towards the Convention's objectives. These challenges underscore the urgent need and strategic importance of shorter, stronger partnerships. We remain fully committed to supporting the effective implementation of the convention at all levels. We are also at a pivotal moment to the UNCCD as a future strategic framework is being developed to guide our collective efforts in the years ahead. In this context, we wish to highlight three priorities. Though not new, they are conditions for the framework's success. First, effective participation. Meaningful engagement of civil society, indigenous people, Local communities, women, youth, pastoralists and other groups must be guaranteed across all UNSSD processes, including negotiation, implementation and reporting. Those most affected must have a stronger voice in decisions that shape their future. In this line, we call on parties to fully implement decision five slash COP 16 by adopting the terms of reference for the indigenous people caucus and local community caucuses. These must be self organized based on self identification with autonomous spaces for internal deliberations and structured engagement within the COP, CST and CREEG. Our participation in negotiations, including contact groups, strengthens transparency, inclusiveness and accountability while contributing to better informed and more resilient decisions. Second, investment in local led action. Achieving LDN requires direct assistance and sustained financing for community led restoration efforts. Resources must reach those groups historically postponed who are already restoring landscape, protecting soils and building resilience. These resources must be locally managed through flexible financing adapted to local realities and provide direct support for indigenous and community land led action. Investment must be human rights based, strengthen community institution and governance, apply the LDN hierarchy by preventing degradation before restoration and safeguard self-determination and free prior and informed consent. We also call for greater investment in agroecology and ecosystem-based approaches that deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits. Third, inclusion in implementation and future planning, capacity development, science policy processes, and national reporting mechanisms must integrate civil society perspectives, including the incorporation of the knowledge of tradition and local communities and indigenous people. As discussions advance on the post-2030 strategy, we urge parties to strengthen connections between local realities and global commitment. ensuring that implementation is led by the custodians of nature and agents of implementation. Madam President, distinguished delegates, COP70's success will depend on ensuring that those who protect and manage the land have a decisive role in shaping local action. Let this be the moment to move from recognition to real empowerment and implementation. There is no ALDN without local leadership, no resilience without inclusion, and no transformation without partnership. Let us move forward with ambition, inclusion, and solidarity. Thank you.

I thank Miss Anon Sato. We have heard the last speaker in the opening segment. I now invite the conference to consider item one B of the provisional agenda entitled adoption of the agenda. The conference as before, it the annotated provisional agenda for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties contained in document ICCD/COP17/1/Rev.1. This provisional agenda was prepared by the UNCCD Secretariat in accordance with the rule nine of the rules of procedure of the Conference and decision 36 of COP16 and agreement with the president of the conference of the parties at its 16th session. Are there any comments on the provisional agenda? I give the floor Okay, I give the floor to the representative of Russian Federation.

Distinguished Chair, President, distinguished Executive Secretary, Distinguished colleagues, the Russian Federation cannot agree with adopting the draft agenda of COP17. Unfortunately, the experts of the Central Asia and Central we are deprived of the opportunity to participate in the work of the intergovernmental working group on the future strategy of the Convention. We would like to note that we attach principles significance to this process and consider participation of the regional representatives as critically important within our common work. The nomination of the Central and Eastern European region was submitted in timely fashion under Annex 5. and as accepted by, this person was accepted by consensus. This was done in line with the scope and presented appropriately. However, after the makeup was published on the official website where it is still present, and the Secretariat confirmed that the nominations were done strictly in line with the procedure, the candidate, the Russian expert in the group, was removed for political reasons. We would like to emphasize that Russia nominated the group not in line with politics. It was not a politician, but a scientist who played an enormous role in creating Annex V and continues to contribute to the work of the Convention. The Russian Federation is consistently against politicization of the work of mechanisms, including the Secretariat of the Convention on Desertification, however, we cannot accept complete exclusion of our country from the scientific efforts of the Convention. We are also convinced that non-participation of experts on Annex V in the work of the Group is unacceptable. is not in line with decision four of decision 60 of the 16th cop and the relevant legal norms and can have an impact on the adoption of the new outline program framework program constructively Russia previously did not protest against nominations from other countries, including unfriendly countries, but the situation has changed. Given the unprecedented case of the candidate on the framework programme, where nominations are undermined and already taken decisions are overruled, we will also consider ourselves authorized to protest against nominations. Thus we adopt to the adoption of the current draft agenda, the adoption namely of item three, the outcome report, the final report of the IWG on the future strategic framework of the Convention. The Russian Federation will be able to withdraw its objection only if the regional experts, including the Russian scientists, take up their rightful posts as members of the IWG. I call on colleagues to be understanding in this respect and we request that our statement be included in the report of the meeting. I thank you.

I thank you, the representative of Russian Federation. Now I give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished delegates. Our delegation has proposed the inclusion of bioeconomy as a supplementary item on the agenda of UNCCD COP17. This is because we believe that parties could benefit from establishing a dedicated discussion on bioeconomy with a particular focus on its relevance to drylands and to combating desertification and land degradation, while also strengthening resilience to drought. Drylands are often portrayed through their vulnerabilities, but they are also landscapes of innovation, adaptation, and biological resources. A sustainable dryland bioeconomy can transform local resources and traditional knowledge into income, employment, and resilient value chains while respecting scarce land and water resources. We have seen this in Brazil's semi-arid northeast. Similar opportunities exist also across other dry land regions. The UNCCD already addresses key building blocks of bioeconomy, including sustainable land management, restoration, drought adaptation, and resilient production systems. A dedicated bioeconomy track could connect these efforts, facilitate knowledge sharing, fostering partnerships, mobilize resources and strengthen locally driven solutions. At the same time, it operationalizes the synergies between the three Rio Conventions through an implementation perspective. We have received significant positive feedback from parties on the value of discussing bioeconomy within the UNCCD framework. We also understand that delegations may need more time to fully consider how this important discussion could best be integrated into our work. In this spirit, we invite parties to consider bioeconomy when discussing draft decisions here in Mongolia in order to allow us to build momentum to consider the topic fully at COP18, thereby ensuring that parties have sufficient time to prepare and engage in this important discussion. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the representative of Brazil. Now I give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you very much, Madam President. The US delegation objects to the inclusion on the agenda of items on gender, the participation and involvement of civil society organizations in the meetings and processes of the convention, and the promotion and strengthening of relationships with other relevant conventions, international institutions, and agencies. The United States objects to these decision items on their premise, and no amount of negotiation will allow us to join consensus on these items. As such, we request that they be struck from the agenda, at which time we will then be able to approve it, saving us valuable negotiating time. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay, I thank the representative for the United States. Are there any comments, any other comments?

While we welcome the initiative to enrich our agenda for COP17, it is the view of Annex II that given the short time for consideration and limited information provided, Annex II does not support the inclusion of this item.

Excuse me, can you stop so I don't know who is speaking?

India.

Can you press the button?

We cannot see who is speaking.

India here.

Okay, then we give the floor to India, please.

Madam President, while we welcome the initiative to enrich our agenda for COP17, it is the view of Annex II that given the short time for consideration and limited information provided, Annex II does not support the inclusion of these proposed additions to the agenda. This does not mean a rejection of the importance of the issue proposed, but a postponement of consideration until a future date. We know we have a very full agenda ahead of us with many existing issues requiring substantial attention. Therefore, we hope our colleagues can be understanding of our wish to focus fully on this first. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank you, representative of India. Any other comments? Please put your button. If not, any other comments? Please give me two seconds. European Union. I give the floor to the European Union.

Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the European Union, we would like to support the agenda as set out. and support the continued inclusion in particular of the work on gender, the gender action plan, and on synergies with the other treaties. And we are happy to continue negotiations in this forum on the agenda as set out by the presidency. Thank you.

Thank you, European Union.

So, okay, I give the floor to Brazil.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you again for giving us the floor once again. This is a comment related to the intervention that were made in this session. Brazil would like to echo the European Union point here to support the agenda originally proposed. We have, as I have said before, proposed an additional item. We are also prepared to keep talking about that and allowing the agenda to move forward as it was proposed by the presidency. And we also attach great importance to the topics of gender, participation of civil society, and the synergies between the three Rio conventions. Thank you, madam.

Okay, thank you, Brazil. Okay, I understand that further consultations are needed on agenda items three, four, five only related to gender matters and eight B, eight A. I also understand that it is the wish of the conference to proceed with the adoption of the agenda items on which there is already consensus in order to allow us to move forward. I therefore propose that the conference proceeds to adopt the provisional agenda without these agenda item and defer the adoption of these agenda items.

To a later date.

And I request the concerned parties to engage and consultations and report back to the plenary on the item in question. These agenda items will be considered for adoption by the conference following these consultations. May take it that the conference wishes to adopt the provisional agenda for the 17th session of the conference of the parties contained in document ICCD. slash cop 17 slash one without agenda items three four five only related to gender matters and eight a and defer to the adoption of those agenda items to a later date on the understanding that additional consultations will take place among relevant parties with the view to reaching a consensus also on those agenda items. I hear no objection. It is so decided. Now, I invite the conference to consider agenda item 1C entitled election of vice presidents. In accordance with Rule 22 of the Rules of Procedure, as amended by Decision 25/COP10, one President and nine Vice-Presidents shall be elected by the Conference from among the representatives of the Parties present at this session, such that every geographical region shall be represented by at least two Members. The elected vice presidents, together with me as president, will serve as members of the bureau for this session. I have been informed that there is general agreement among the parties to elect the following candidates as vice presidents of the Conference of the Parties at its 17th session. African States, One, Mr. Jean Kwakwakoado from Cote d'Ivoire. Two, Mr. David Payang from Cameroon.

Asia Pacific States.

One, Miss Tikura Moyeka from the Cook Islands. Latin American and the Caribbean States. One, Miss Lais Loredo Gama from Brazil. to Mr. Kamora Brown from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Western European and other states, one, Miss Philippine Dutali from France, and Miss Stephanie Pierce the Ralshut from Switzerland. May I take it that the conference wishes to elect these candidates to the position of vice presidents of the conference at its 17th session I hear no objection it is so decided on behalf of the conference I wish to congratulate congratulate the vice presidents on their election and I look forward to working closely with them to ensure the successful conclusion of the 17th session of the conference. The election of the remaining vice presidents and the rapporteur will take place at a later date to be announced. I now invite the conference to consider agenda item 1E entitled accreditation of intergovernmental organizations, civil society organizations and representatives from the private sector and admission of observers. I would like to draw the attention to the conference to document ICCD/COP17/INF6 with a list of intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations including non-governmental organizations proposed by for accreditation. May take it that the conference agrees to a credit as observers, the organizations and entities listed in documents ICCD slash cop 17 slash inf six. Okay, I give the floor to Azerbaijan.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Good morning, everyone. The contributions made by civil society organizations are invaluable to the development and well-being of society. In the same way, the participation of CSOs in the work of the UNCCPs is is highly valuable as it strengthens the inclusivity and diversity of the process. Their engagement brings important perspectives, expertise and grassroots experiences. At the same time, the accreditation process for CSOs could benefit from a more robust procedure to ensure that participation is both meaningful and credible. Organizations that fail to demonstrate respect for a sovereign party to the convention should not be eligible for accreditation to the COP. This principle is essential to safeguarding the integrity, impartiality and mutual respect that should underpin the convention's process. Madam President, Azerbaijan had communicated its objection to accreditation of two NGOs that have engaged in activities that that violated sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. So we wanted to make this statement intervention for the record. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Azerbaijan. Are there any further comments on this request? So I note your request, Azerbaijan, it will be reflected in the report of the session. So in line with rule 72, I invite all organizations as contained in ICCD/COP17/INF6 to participate in the proceedings of the session without the right to vote in matters of direct concern to them. I now invite the Conference to consider item 1F of the agenda on the organization of work, including the sessions of the subsidiary bodies. I first invite the Conference to turn to the tentative schedule of work for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties presented in the annex one of document ICCD/COP17/1/Rev.1. Are there any comments on the tentative schedule of work? I see no comments. May I take it that the Conference agrees to the proposed schedule of work for the session and the understanding that the conference would make any adjustment to the program as necessary in the course of the session and necessary due to the adjustments regarding the agenda I hear no objection it is so decided I next invite the conference to turn to the establishment of subsidiary bodies. As delegations may recall, in line with rule 28, paragraph one of the rules of the procedure, it has been the practice of previous sessions of the conference of the parties to establish a committee of the whole chaired by an ex-official vice president of the conference and open to all parties. The function of this committee is to recommend draft decisions for adoption by the conference and its chair would have the authority to delegate work as appropriate to drafting groups. The conference may also wish to allocate to the committee of the whole The items as detailed in the paragraph 16 of document ICCD/COP17/1/1 as follows. Agenda item two, 2018 to 2030 strategic framework of the United Nations Convention to combat desertification and its sub items. B, enhancing the implementation of the convention and its 2018-2030 strategic framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. D, review of progress and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification communication plan. Agenda five, policy frameworks and thematic issues without gender matters. Agenda item seven, program and budget for the biennial 2027, 2028. Agenda item eight, procedural matters and its sub-items. B, participation and involvement of the private sector in meetings and processes of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the business engagement strategy. See program of work for the 18th session of the conference of the parties and any other matters.

Deemed to be appropriate.

Distinguished delegates, I first turn your attention to the establishment of the committee of the whole. May I take that the conference wishes in accordance with its past practice to establish a committee of the whole and to allocate to it the items on the agenda of the conference that I have just read out I hear no objection it is so decided May I take it that the conference wishes to establish a committee of the whole and to allocate to it the items on the agenda of the conference that I gave previously read out? I hear no objection. It is so decided. With regard to the position of chair of the committee of the whole just established, I would like to designate our distinguished colleague, Mr. Halid Cherki of Morocco, as chair of the Committee of the Whole. May I take it that the Conference agrees to the designation of Mr. Halid Cherki of Morocco as chair of the Committee of the Whole? I hear no objection. It is so decided. On behalf of the conference, I would like to congratulate Mr. Halid Cherki of Morocco. Distinguished delegates, we have concluded our program work for this meeting. The second meeting of the conference of parties where formal statements can be delivered will take place this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in room MET8. The third COP plenary meeting will take place on Thursday, 20 August. The first meeting of the Committee of the Whole will take place this afternoon at 3 p.m. in the plenary hall. The Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention will have its first meeting this afternoon as well, starting at 3 p.m. in the main committee room. Further information on the programme COP17 and related meetings is available on the conference website and through the conference application for smartphones. The meeting is adjourned.