Resilience Reimagined: From Arabian Deserts to the Mongolian Gobi

As the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP shifts from the Arabian deserts of Saudi Arabia (COP16, 2024) to the vast Mongolian Gobi (COP17, 2026), this journey represents more than a geographical transition — it continues a global dialogue on resilience.

As the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP shifts from the Arabian deserts of Saudi Arabia (COP16) to the vast Mongolian Gobi (COP17), this journey represents more than a geographical transition — it continues a global dialogue on resilience.

At COP16, Saudi Arabia emphasized the urgency of restoring drylands and building resilience in some of the harshest environments. These lessons and commitments provide a foundation for COP17 in Mongolia, where resilience will be further reimagined through the lens of the Gobi’s unique ecological, cultural, and scientific perspectives.

In the face of accelerating climate change, land degradation, and socio-ecological pressures, resilience must be reframed — from endurance and resistance to transformation, renewal, and regeneration. This session draws on the achievements of COP16 while spotlighting Mongolia’s contribution to global dryland resilience through indigenous wisdom, scientific innovation, and forward-looking policy frameworks.

By linking two iconic dryland regions — the Arabian deserts and the Mongolian Gobi — this session highlights resilience as a dynamic, transformative process with lessons for all arid and semi-arid lands worldwide.