Zimbabwe is attending the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to tackle escalating crises in land degradation, desertification, and climate-induced drought.
The Conference officially commenced on 17 August and will run through 28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Convened under the overarching global theme, Restoring Land. Restoring Hope, COP17 brings together delegates from 197 Parties.
During the two-week summit, Zimbabwe is strategically positioned to advance key regional and national priorities, including advocating for the adoption of a legally binding global drought protocol, securing climate and land degradation neutrality financing, and championing sustainable rangeland management.
As a lead negotiator for the Africa Group on key procedural and budgetary matters, Zimbabwe remains committed to ensuring that global environmental frameworks deliver tangible technical and financial resources to vulnerable communities across the global South.
The Zimbabwean delegation comprises key representatives from government ministries, state parastatals, members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife and civil society organisations, demonstrating a robust, whole-of-nation approach to environmental governance.
The technical proceedings and subsidiary body negotiations during the initial phase of the conference are being led by Simon Masanga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.
As deliberations transition into the summit’s second week, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Evelyn Ndlovu will assume leadership of the national delegation.
Minister Ndlovu is set to steer Zimbabwe’s participation in the High-Level Ministerial Segment, engage in high-level policy dialogues, and lead strategic bilateral negotiations aimed at securing multilateral commitments.
The technical proceedings and subsidiary body negotiations during the initial phase of the conference are being led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Simon Masanga.
Discover more from CLIMATE BRIEF
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
