DELEGATES from 196 countries, including Jamaica, have gathered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Over the next two weeks, governments, financial institutions, businesses, scientists and civil society will work to advance practical solutions, forge new partnerships and mobilise investment for land restoration and drought resilience, while negotiate decisions on drought, rangelands, agricultural lands and soils, resource mobilisation, private-sector engagement and the convention’s future strategic direction.
Jamaica is being represented by head of delegation, minister of state in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Delroy Williams — who is scheduled to arrive at the conference on Friday — and Patrick Watson, senior director for hazard mitigation and risk management in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.
The decisions, partnerships and initiatives launched at UNCCD COP17 are expected to strengthen international cooperation on sustainable land management, land restoration and drought resilience over the coming years, at a time when countries are facing increasing pressure from land degradation, water scarcity and climate change.
Read more: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/08/18/jamaica-joins-global-talks-drought-resilience-mongolia/
