The UN climate and land conference COP17 is underway in Ulaanbaatar, with financing for land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable land management among its key topics. For Tajikistan, the meeting provides an opportunity to present environmental projects and seek international funding for restoring degraded land and pastures.

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened in the Mongolian capital on August 17 and will continue through August 28. Delegates from the convention’s 197 parties are attending alongside representatives of international organizations, businesses, civil society and the scientific community.

The conference focuses on desertification, land degradation and drought, with particular attention to land restoration, water, rangelands, food systems and soil health. Financing and private-sector participation are also prominent on the agenda.

On August 18, delegates are discussing additional investment and cooperation with international financial mechanisms, including financing through the Global Environment Facility, resource mobilization and greater private-sector involvement. Later in the conference, a ministerial dialogue will focus specifically on innovative financial mechanisms for land restoration and drought resilience.

For Tajikistan, these discussions could provide a platform to seek financing and partnerships for environmental projects, particularly those involving degraded land, pastures and rural communities.

Tajikistan and Mongolia expand environmental cooperation

Tajikistan signaled its interest in COP17 before the conference began. During President Emomali Rahmon’s state visit to Mongolia in July, the two countries agreed to expand cooperation on environmental issues.

Among the areas identified were pasture restoration, glacier protection, adaptation to climate change and measures to combat desertification and land degradation.

These priorities closely correspond with the COP17 agenda, which places particular emphasis on restoring degraded land and rangelands and attracting public and private investment to such projects.

Tajikistan could therefore use the conference not only to exchange experience, but also to seek international financing and technical support for projects involving pasture and land restoration, water management, climate adaptation and biodiversity protection.

COP17’s financing discussions are designed to bring governments together with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and private investors. For Tajikistan, the practical opportunity will be to connect its environmental priorities with financing mechanisms capable of turning them into projects on the ground.