After 12 days of debates and negotiations in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, delegates of 197 parties (196 countries + the EU) who signed the United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification wrapped up the soConference of Parties (COP17) with note-worthy results.
Like in all previous COPs it proved difficult to achieve unanimity over a legally binding all-encompassing documents, especially at the time when the big powers question the mere principle of multilateralism.
But, the Convention is a process and from the beginning of COP17 the host country Mongolia and the UN have appealed for it to try to produce tangible results.
“Today, the time has come for us to ask ourselves a bold and candid question – we have spoken at length and made many declarations, but have we been able to turn our words into action?
The previous events all brought meaningful outcomes. But, the truth is that the world has never lacked goals and commitments.
