Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reaches Mongolia for COP17

Ulaanbaatar, Aug 23 (IANS) Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav arrived in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday to participate in the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

“Arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia today to participate in the ongoing COP17 of the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD). Over the next few days, will be putting forth India’s position on achieving land degradation neutrality and the eco-restoration agenda and related issues on different forums and in bilateral meetings,” Yadav said on X.

Indian Ambassador to Mongolia Atul Malhari Gotsurve and the Mongolian President’s Foreign Policy Advisor E. Odbayar welcomed the Minister.

“On 23 August 2026, HE Mr Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India to Mongolia and Dr E. Odbayar, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia, welcomed HE Mr Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, who is leading the Indian delegation for UNCCD COP 17 in Mongolia,” the Indian Embassy in Mongolia said on X.

Earlier in August, the Ambassador, along with the Resident Diplomatic Corps, visited the venue of the UNCCD COP17.

The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UNCCD will be hosted by Mongolia in its capital city, Ulaanbaatar, from August 17 to 28 under the theme of ‘Restoring Land. Restoring Hope’.

According to UNCCD, COP17 is expected to bring together delegates from UNCCD’s 197 parties, alongside leaders from government, business and civil society, as well as scientists, youth, indigenous peoples, pastoralists and smallholder farmers. They will convene to forge solutions to the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought, recognising that restoring land is also essential to reducing instability, preventing displacement and strengthening human and national security in vulnerable regions.

COP17 is taking place during the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), declared by the United Nations General Assembly and championed by Mongolia.

–IANS

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