Environment News

Global Drought Framework

September 1 , 2026 13 hrs 0 min 18 0

Countries failed to agree on a global drought framework at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The proposed framework aimed to improve drought prevention, early-warning systems, national planning and international cooperation.
Both legally binding and voluntary options remained unresolved and were postponed until COP18.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) estimated an annual drought resilience and land restoration funding gap of $278 billion.
Countries agreed to make drought a permanent standalone agenda item from COP18 onwards.
COP18 will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.