From 20 to 22 August 2026, over 200 participants from more than 30 countries gathered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the UNCCD COP17 Mayors’ Forum, including mayors, governors and other local and regional leaders. The event, co-organised by the Governor’s Office of Ulaanbaatar, the UNCCD Secretariat, UN-Habitat, and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Local2030 Coalition as key partners, marked a pivotal moment for advancing local action on sustainable land management and drought resilience.

The Forum culminated in the adoption of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, calling for a stronger, more permanent role for cities and regions within the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) process. The Forum also introduced the Ulaanbaatar Initiative, a voluntary effort led by the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar to initiate practical approaches for cities to measure and report on land degradation.

The Mayors’ Forum provided a dynamic platform for high-level policy dialogue, technical exchange, and peer-to-peer learning. Sessions covered urban ecosystem restoration, sand and dust storms, water scarcity, drought resilience, sustainable urban growth, and innovative financing mechanisms. The Forum drew participants representing international organisations, city networks, financial institutions, academia, and the private sector, all committed to accelerating progress on sustainable urban and land agendas.

Group photo of the Mayors’ Forum

“Land resilience is not an abstract global agenda. It is about whether our cities can provide safe water, clean air, green spaces, secure livelihoods and a healthy future for our children and our communities.” said B. Purevdagva, Governor and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar. He expressed pride in connecting local and regional governments across dryland and extreme-climate regions, enabling cities to share knowledge, better measure land degradation, and transform global commitments into tangible local action.

“Participating in this Mayors’ Forum, I deeply feel that local governments are the key implementers in desertification control,” said Ji Rimutu, Deputy Mayor of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, China. Ordos, globally recognized for successfully halting desert expansion, exemplifies how “holding back the desert with green growth” yields real results. Strong governance and innovation have shown that even the driest landscapes can be renewed. Ji Rimutu added, “We are eager to deepen global cooperation, share sand-control technologies, embrace shared ecological responsibility, and work together to improve the green well-being of all.” 

UNCCD COP17 Mayors’ Forum

 

The Call for Rio Synergies: ICLEI’s Perspective

Desertification is not an isolated crisis; it is intricately linked to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and unsustainable land use. The three Rio Conventions—UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD—trace their origins to the 1992 Earth Summit, which recognised the inseparability of environmental protection, sustainable development, and human well-being. Yet, for over three decades, these conventions have largely operated in silos, with separate financing mechanisms and communities of practice.

From ICLEI’s perspective, integrated implementation is crucial. ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin, delivering the Forum’s opening remarks, called for integrated implementation across the three Rio Conventions, and for local and regional governments to be recognized and resourced as essential implementation partners across all three processes. “For local governments, there is no separate climate, biodiversity, or land agenda. There is only the challenge of managing interconnected systems and delivering resilient, liveable, sustainable communities, with limited resources, and under growing pressure,” Van Begin stated. He emphasized the need for more aligned national planning, reformed financing, and a strategic coordination body to guide joint work.

Gino Van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General,  delivered opening remarks at the UNCCD COP17 Mayors’ Forum

With UNCCD COP17, CBD COP17, and UNFCCC COP31 all convening within months of one another in 2026, ICLEI sees a strategic opportunity to demonstrate that the conventions born together in Rio can finally act together in practice.

 

The Ulaanbaatar Declaration: Local Leadership for Land Resilience

One of the Forum’s major achievements was the adoption of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, building on the momentum from UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh. Titled “Local Leadership for Land Resilience: Advancing Implementation across the Rio Conventions,” the Declaration sets out five core calls to action:

1. Advance integrated local action on sustainable land management, drought resilience, biodiversity, climate resilience, water security, and sustainable urban development, while strengthening urban-rural linkages.
2. Strengthen the role of local and regional governments within the UNCCD process, supporting more structured and regular engagement.
3. Enhance coherence across the Rio Conventions and the water agenda, encouraging coordinated local-level implementation aligned with the 2030 Agenda.
4. Support implementation through partnerships and finance, with calls for more direct, simplified, and predictable access to finance for local and regional governments.
5. Promote knowledge, innovation, and cooperation through peer learning and the exchange of practical experiences, including nature-based solutions.

Purevdagva Byaruuzana, Governor of Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, announced the Ulaanbaatar Declaration at the Forum

The Ulaanbaatar Declaration marks a step forward from recognition and advocacy towards sustained engagement and implementation, calling for stronger partnerships, cooperation and practical action to translate global commitments on land, climate, biodiversity and water into locally led solutions. Building on the progress made through the Riyadh Process, it also supports continued dialogue, peer learning and cooperation between the UNCCD, Parties, and local and regional governments, while strengthening connections across the Rio Conventions.

 

ICLEI’s Role: Connecting Global Agendas with Local Implementation

As a co-organizer of the Mayors’ Forum, ICLEI helped shape the Forum as a platform to strengthen the voice and role of local and regional governments in the UNCCD process, while connecting land resilience with the broader agendas on climate, biodiversity and water.

This was reflected throughout the Forum, from the High-level Dialogue on multilevel governance and partnerships to thematic discussions facilitated by ICLEI on regenerating urban ecosystems, strengthening urban water security, and mobilizing finance and regional cooperation. These exchanges brought together local leaders, national governments, international organizations and financing partners around both the enabling conditions and practical solutions needed to accelerate local implementation.

Shu Zhu (first from left), ICLEI East Asia Secretariat Regional Director, moderated the Round 1 of the High-level Dialogue

Through the Forum and beyond, ICLEI will continue to connect policy advocacy with local practice and implementation, helping local and regional governments strengthen partnerships, access knowledge and resources, and translate the ambitions of the Rio Conventions into locally led action

 

Looking Ahead: Turning Global Commitments into Local Action 

Through its active engagement in the Mayors’ Forum and its ongoing initiatives, ICLEI reaffirms its commitment to supporting local and regional governments as essential partners in global efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded land, and build climate-resilient communities. The Ulaanbaatar Declaration stands as a testament to the growing recognition of local leadership in achieving sustainable development. ICLEI will continue to facilitate multilevel collaboration and foster innovative action, ensuring that the ambitions of the Rio Conventions are realized on the ground, in cities and regions worldwide.

Drafted by Xiaoqian ZHOU, Ge LIU

Image source: ICLEI East Asia Secretariat