Published on: 2026-08-23
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Jaap van Hirden, UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia; Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia; Babatunde A. Ahonsi, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkey
August 22, 2026 Climate and Environment
This year Mongolia, Armenia, and Turkey will be at the center of global efforts to address three of the most critical environmental issues of our time: desertification, biodiversity loss, and climate change. In August, Mongolia will host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP-17), in October Armenia will hold the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (also COP-17), and in November Turkey will host the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-31).
These meetings are much more than just environmental conferences. They are about economic transformation, sustainable development, social stability, and the future of multilateral cooperation.
The geopolitical necessity of environmental actions
The world is approaching these meetings at a time of acute uncertainty. Conflicts in the Middle East affect energy supplies, food security, and economic activity.
It is precisely now that it is necessary to invest in sustainable development, viewing it not as an expense item but as a practical risk management strategy. Land restoration, clean energy, biodiversity protection, and water security can reduce dependence on imports, strengthen food systems, create jobs, and help people maintain incomes.
UNDP Eurasia It is precisely now that investment in sustainable development is necessary, viewing it not as an expense item but as a practical risk management strategy.
The decisions made in Ulaanbaatar, Yerevan, and Antalya will largely determine whether countries can build economies based on the protection of human rights and opening up new opportunities for people.
Three conferences – one decisive moment
Three conferences are held within the framework of conventions agreed upon following the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This is related to their colloquial name – the “Rio Trio.” The issues they address are inextricably linked.
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation are consequences of the same irrational patterns of production and consumption. Moreover, these phenomena reinforce each other: drought accelerates land degradation, land degradation undermines biodiversity, biodiversity loss weakens ecosystems, and weakened ecosystems amplify the impacts of climate change.
The situation in three countries clearly demonstrates this.
In Mongolia, the pressure on pastures is increasing due to land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and climate vulnerability—factors that reinforce each other.
In Armenia, deforestation, excessive livestock grazing, agriculture, and mining activities destroy forest ecosystems. This, in turn, affects plant pollination and water purification.
In Turkey, the heat has led to a decrease in tomato yields and simultaneously increased the need for irrigation and energy.
UNDP Armenia/J. Hilton Countries face an annual funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals, measured in trillions of dollars.
Policy coordination is no longer a matter of choice – it is the only way to achieve results with the necessary speed and scale.
Together, the three meetings, along with the UN Water Conference taking place in December, provide countries with the opportunity to unify development planning, climate commitments, biodiversity issues, land conservation, financing, and digital infrastructure into a single coherent strategy.
Funding is the main unresolved issue
The key theme of all three conferences remains financing. Countries face an annual funding shortfall for the Sustainable Development Goals measured in trillions of dollars. At the same time, the task is not just to mobilize resources, but also to unite funding sources around common goals.
Public funding should set the direction through budgets, subsidies, tax policy, public investments, and procurements. International financing and specialized funds should support this direction, while private capital can be attracted by creating a clearer portfolio of projects, risk-sharing instruments, and predictable regulation. Charitable and blended financing can help prepare projects and mitigate risks.
FAO/K. Purevrakchaa Nearly 77 percent of Mongolia’s land resources are subject to degradation.
Financing is based on trust. Comprehensive strategies can reduce uncertainty, clarify possible trade-offs, and make projects more attractive to investors.
Whether it is Mongolia’s need for investment in drought-resilient agriculture, Armenia’s efforts to attract financing for biodiversity conservation and the development of natural economic chains, or Turkey’s strive to secure climate financing for “green” industrialization and sustainable infrastructure — the conclusion is clear: comprehensive plans reduce risks, attract investments, and accelerate results.
Therefore, the “Rio Trio” should help move from promises to concrete projects, and from fragmented financing mechanisms to strategies that bring all participants together at one table.
The Role of the UN
This is precisely the kind of work the UN supports in more than 160 countries worldwide. The task of the Resident Coordinators is to assist governments in making the most of the opportunities provided by global forums and to mobilize the entire UN system to achieve results at the national level.
In Mongolia, the implementation of the UNCCD COP 17 is used as an opportunity to lay the foundation for long-term development that will continue even after delegates leave Ulaanbaatar. Discussions on land restoration, pasture management, and increasing drought resilience help link global environmental commitments with national development priorities.
Meanwhile, the UN in Armenia and its partners are preparing for COP-17 on biodiversity in November 2026, promoting a dialogue that highlights the inseparable link between biodiversity and climate and involves all layers of society in the discussion.
Special attention is given to the interaction between journalists and experts. The KS-17 Media School is intended to become a flagship initiative that can be scaled and adapted beyond Armenia to promote quality coverage of future climate and environmental conferences.
Ahead of COP-31, the UN in Turkey brought together representatives from government, business, academia, and youth. Their work focuses on the circular economy, industrial decarbonization, food systems, water resources, urban resilience, and a just transition.
For host countries, success should ultimately be measured not only by the quality of the conferences themselves, but also by the partnerships, investments, and policy changes that will endure long after they conclude.
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