China, Arab States Unveil Five-Year Plan to Combat Desertification at UNCCD COP17
China and Arab countries have agreed on a five-year action plan to tackle drought, desertification, and land degradation, announced at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia.
In a significant step toward addressing shared environmental challenges, China and Arab nations have unveiled a five-year action plan to intensify cooperation on combating drought, desertification, and land degradation. The announcement was made on Saturday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The plan was presented during a meeting of the Steering Committee of the China-Arab International Research Center for Drought, Desertification and Land Degradation, alongside a China-Arab cooperation workshop. These gatherings brought together experts and officials to chart a course for joint action over the next half-decade.
Drought, desertification, and land degradation are pressing ecological issues that affect both China and the Arab world. The new action plan leverages existing platforms, including the China-Arab Center and its partnership networks, to deepen collaboration in key areas such as desertification control, management of degraded lands, and the development of sandstorm monitoring and early warning systems.
COP17, which officially opened on Monday in Ulaanbaatar under the theme "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope," has drawn delegates from the UNCCD's 197 Parties. Representatives from United Nations bodies, international organizations, civil society groups, research institutions, and enterprises are also in attendance. The conference agenda focuses on restoring degraded land, promoting sustainable land management, building drought resilience, and protecting and restoring grasslands.