Ulaanbaatar, August 23: Indian Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, arrived in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday to participate in the 17th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties (COP-17).
In a post on the social media platform X, Yadav stated, “Today, I reached the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, to attend the ongoing COP-17 of the UNCCD. Over the next few days, I will present India’s stance on issues related to land degradation neutrality and eco-restoration through various forums and bilateral meetings.”
Yadav was welcomed by Atul Malhari Gotsurve, the Indian Ambassador to Mongolia, and E. Odbayar, the foreign policy advisor to the President of Mongolia.
The Indian Embassy in Mongolia shared on X, “On August 23, Indian Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve and Dr. E. Odbayar, foreign policy advisor to the President of Mongolia, welcomed Bhupender Yadav, the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, who is leading the Indian delegation at the UNCCD COP-17 in Mongolia.”
Earlier in August, the ambassador visited the venue of COP-17 with the resident diplomatic corps.
The 17th session of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP-17) is being held in Ulaanbaatar from August 17 to 28 under the theme “Restoring Land, Renewing Hope.”
According to the UNCCD, representatives from 197 member countries, along with leaders from government, business, and civil society, scientists, youth, indigenous peoples, pastoralists, and small farmers, are expected to participate in COP-17. They will come together to find solutions to interconnected challenges such as desertification, land degradation, and drought. The discussions will also focus on the necessity of restoring land to reduce instability in vulnerable areas, prevent displacement, and strengthen humanitarian and national security.
COP-17 is being held during the “United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists” (IYRP 2026), as declared by the United Nations General Assembly and supported by Mongolia.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.