The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) wrapped up in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with a $1.3 billion commitment spanning 23 projects across five continents. The summit, which brought together representatives from 197 signatory nations alongside major financial institutions including the World Bank and regional development banks, also launched the world's first global financing platform dedicated to drought resilience, aiming to mobilise up to $400 million to help countries shift from reactive crisis management to proactive preparedness. The pledges carry particular urgency given that 40% of the Earth's land is currently affected by desertification and 3.2 billion people bear its consequences — including in host nation Mongolia, where 77% of the territory is threatened and the Gobi Desert continues to expand.