CCOP17: Keeping Ambition Focused on Implementation - Joint Statement

As negotiations at the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) move towards their decisive phase, the European Union and its Member States present in Ulaanbaatar are determined to work constructively with Parties and partners to secure practical, ambitious and implementable outcomes.

COP17 is an important opportunity to translate commitments on land degradation, drought resilience and sustainable land management into action. The EU recognises that negotiations are complex at the multilateral level.

The EU and its member states present in Ulaanbaatar support multilateralism as a key instrument to tackle global challenges that cannot be solved efficiently at the national level. Desertification, land degradation and drought are such problems where international solutions are required. It is therefore concerning that some parties have so far adopted a less constructive approach and have prevented discussions on important matters from even commencing. We encourage all delegations to adopt a constructive approach, enabling Parties to engage in a comprehensive discussion on all listed items, thereby empowering COP17 to collaboratively find solutions.

What matters is that the substance is preserved

We therefore approach the final phase of COP17 with a pragmatic objective: to preserve the core priorities of the Convention while ensuring that they are reflected across the outcomes, implementation mechanisms and follow-up processes of the Convention.

We see strong value in closer cooperation across the Rio Conventions and other relevant UN processes. Land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change are interconnected challenges and should be addressed in mutually reinforcing ways. We therefore welcome the opportunity at COP17 to advance practical cooperation among the Rio Conventions and to build on existing political momentum for greater coherence in implementation. A dedicated COP17 dialogue on delivering Rio Convention synergies provides an important opportunity to move from political recognition towards concrete cooperation and action.

Our priorities also include strengthening the enabling environment for land restoration, drought resilience, food security and sustainable development, where the role of all women and girls and ensuring that gender equality remains an integral part. The EU welcomes the continued work of the Gender Caucus and the attention being given at COP17 to women pastoralists and herders, recognising their contribution to sustainable land management and resilient rural livelihoods.

Science is important, as an objective basis for taking the right decisions by policy makers. The science policy interface of the Convention is a connector and a translator between science and policy. It served the global community well, since 2013, underpinning decisions of the UNCCD and its Parties. The EU wants this COP to enable continuation of its work into the next biennium.

The EU also attaches importance to meaningful participation of Civil Society, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. Their knowledge, experience and stewardship are essential to successful land restoration and sustainable management of natural resources. Effective avenues are essential to ensure their perspectives are reflected. These include the Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ Caucuses, participation in relevant dialogues, involvement in meetings, implementation partnerships as well as the work of the Convention beyond the formal negotiating room. COP17's programme provides dedicated spaces to ensure the voices and perspectives of both Indigenous Peoples and local communities are heard. We thank the CSO Panel for giving Pastoralists and local communities a space and the opportunity to make their voices heard during this COP17.

The EU appreciates the work carried out on the Convention’s Future Strategic Framework. Having a clear strategy for the period after 2030 will focus all Parties’ efforts on the most important areas of implementation. The work on the strategy must continue with momentum and urgency.

Given the severe budgetary pressure facing the Convention, and whilst recognising the fiscal constraints faced by Parties, we consider that it is the duty of the Parties to fulfil their obligations and to provide the Secretariat with a budget that allows it to carry out its tasks mandated by COP decisions in a professional and effective (including cost effective) manner, for the benefit of all Parties.

Keeping substance at the centre

Our approach is straightforward: we should judge COP17 by whether it enables and encourages effective action.

A successful COP17 should leave us with stronger implementation, stronger cooperation and stronger participation - and with no loss of ambition on the priorities that underpin the Convention.

One of the speakers at the opening session of the High Level segment on 24 August reminded the plenary that “No one can stand alone and no one can be an exception”. We remain ready to work constructively with all partners to deliver that outcome and calls on other Parties to approach this week in the same spirit.

We will therefore continue to work constructively with the COP17 Mongolian Presidency, the Secretariat and all Parties to identify solutions that are both ambitious and politically achievable.