Ulaanbaatar Dialogue advances practical action on Rio Convention synergies
A high-level dialogue in Ulaanbaatar brought countries and partners together to move Rio Convention synergies from political commitment to practical, country-led action.
Ministers, Rio Convention COP Presidencies, UN leaders and partners gathered at UNCCD COP17 for a High-Level Dialogue on how climate, biodiversity and land action can work better together.
Led by Türkiye, building on the Antalya Dialogues
The event, From Ambition to Action: Delivering Rio Convention Synergies across the Triple COP Year, was organized under Türkiye’s leadership, in collaboration with the UNCCD–G20 Global Land Initiative. It is part of Türkiye’s country-led ambition for UNFCCC COP31, and was held following two technical meetings, known as the Antalya Dialogues, held in Antalya in July and in Ulaanbaatar in August.
Together, these Dialogues are helping to shape the proposed voluntary, country-led Rio Synergies Group for Action, an approach that countries expect will strengthen the implementation of the three Rio Conventions on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification in their countries.
Participants emphasized that the goal is not to create another process, but to make existing systems work better together: reducing duplication, easing reporting burdens and supporting action that delivers for land restoration, climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Turning commitments into country-led action
Speakers called for a practical approach that strengthens national policy coherence, supports implementation on the ground and helps align ambition with investment and finance. Recognizing that communities experience land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change as connected crises, many speakers said solutions must be connected too.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad, UNCCD Executive Secretary, underlined the need for “the systems we already have to work together more effectively and at scale.” Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Ms. Fatma Varank, stressed that synergy is about greater scale, reduced duplication and stronger results—not merging mandates.
Momentum towards COP31 in Antalya
The Ulaanbaatar Dialogue strengthens momentum across the Rio Convention’s that are organizing their Conferences of the Parties this year, known as the Triple COP Year. The Dialogue is expected to link the outcomes of UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia with the road to CBD COP17 under Armenia’s Presidency in October and UNFCCC COP31 under Türkiye’s Presidency in November in Antalya.
Interested countries and partners will continue contributing to the co-development of the Rio Synergies Group for Action, with a view to its formal launch at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya.
The Dialogue reinforced the Belém process on Rio Convention synergies, with Türkiye formally endorsing the Belém Joint Statement on the Rio Conventions and joining the shared political commitment to closer cooperation across the climate, biodiversity and land agendas.
Read the press release for details of the event and the first Antalya dialogue.
For more information contact:
Ibrahim, Turkiye
