Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
ZIMBABWE is participating in the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which began on Monday and will run until August 28 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Held under the global theme, “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope,” COP17 brings together delegates from 197 Parties to deliberate on the interconnected challenges of land degradation, desertification and climate-induced drought.
Zimbabwe has assembled a broad delegation comprising representatives from Government ministries, State-owned enterprises, members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife and civil society organisations, reflecting a whole-of-nation approach to environmental governance.
“The technical proceedings and subsidiary body negotiations during the initial phase of the conference are being led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Mr Simon Masanga,” the Ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook.
As the conference moves into its second week, Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu will lead Zimbabwe’s participation in the High-Level Ministerial Segment, high-level policy dialogues and strategic bilateral engagements.
The Ministry said Zimbabwe would use the two-week summit to advance key national and regional priorities, including advocating for the adoption of a legally binding global drought protocol, securing financing for climate action and land degradation neutrality, and promoting sustainable rangeland management in line with the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026.
“Furthermore, as a lead negotiator for the Africa Group on key procedural and budgetary matters, Zimbabwe remains committed to ensuring that global environmental frameworks deliver tangible technical and financial resources to vulnerable communities across the global South,” said the Ministry.
The conference provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable natural resource management while advancing the interests of vulnerable communities affected by climate change and land degradation.
