The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) under the theme Restoring Land. Restoring Hope held from August 17-28, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Organizational matters (Item 1) (a) Adoption of the agenda and organization of work Adoption of the report of the Committee on Science and Technology (Item 7) Action on draft proposals
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Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I call to order the fifth meeting of the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology. I now invite the Committee to resume its consideration of sub-item A of agenda item one entitled Adoption of the Agenda and Organisation of Work. I wish to recall that at its first meeting on 18 August, The Committee adopted the provisional agenda for the seventeenth session contained in document ICCD/COP17/CST/1 with the exception of agenda item 2 as a whole. Consideration of the item and its sub-items were deferred on the understanding that they would remain under consultation and considered at a later stage. I understand that consultations have taken place on the inclusion of agenda item two entitled items resulting from the work program of the science policy interface for the biennium 2025 to 2026. Sub item two A entitled synthesis report of the activities of the science policy interface and sub item two B entitled synthesis report on the third edition of the global land outlook. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all delegations for the spirit of collaboration and flexibility shown. Are there any delegations wishing to take the floor? I give the floor to the Russian Federation.
Thank you, Chairperson. Given the progress made during the session, on the issue of the intergovernmental working group on the future strategy of the Convention, and with legitimate concerns regarding the non-representation of the Russian Federation in the bodies of the Convention, yet in a spirit of goodwill and in the hope of attaining a balance and interaction working in effective cooperation and emphasizing the importance of progress in combating desertification, within the agreements achieved, the Russian Federation withdraws its objections regarding consideration of item two of the agenda of the CST. I thank you.
I thank the Russian Federation. Accordingly, may I take it that the committee wishes to include agenda item two and sub-items 2A and 2B in the agenda of its 17th session? I hear no objection. It is so decided. I propose that further discussions on these items be taken up in the CST contact group. The committee has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item A of agenda item one. The final plenary meeting of the Committee will take place later today at a time to be determined. The seventh meeting of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention will take place immediately after the adjournment of this meeting. For information on upcoming meetings, please consult the Daily Journal at the UNCCD website and the UNCCD app. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you.
