Middle East Green Initiative to attend UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia

1 min read Updated on 17 Aug 2026, 05:27 PM

Reviewed by

Shriram SScanX News Team

AI Summary

MGI joins UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia to advance its 50 billion tree planting goal. The initiative seeks to strengthen ties with global partners and member states to combat desertification. Secretary-General Ibrahim Alturki highlighted land restoration as key to climate resilience.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.

The Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) will participate in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), scheduled for August 17 to 28, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The engagement underscores a unified effort by 35 member states to combat desertification and restore degraded land through regional cooperation.

Operating under the theme "Hope is Measurable," MGI intends to convert environmental aspirations into documented commitments. The initiative highlighted its core targets: planting 50 billion trees, equivalent to restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land across the region.

Strategic Objectives

At COP17, MGI plans to present its model for regional climate action to decision-makers, global partners, and media representatives. Key priorities include:

Reinforcing partnership with the UNCCD.
Showcasing scalable solutions for land degradation and vegetation loss.
Facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge exchange among member states.

H.E. Ibrahim Alturki, Secretary-General of MGI, stated that land restoration is a cornerstone for enhancing climate resilience and advancing sustainable development. He emphasized that regional cooperation and science-based action can transform shared challenges into opportunities for sustainable impact.

Partnership Expansion

MGI seeks to deepen dialogue with governments, international organizations, scientific institutions, financial entities, and the private sector. The goal is to forge actionable partnerships that accelerate project implementation with meaningful environmental, social, and economic benefits.

What specific financial mechanisms or investment frameworks will MGI propose to fund the restoration of 200 million hectares across 35 member states?

How does the MGI plan to measure and verify the 'measurable hope' of planting 50 billion trees to ensure accountability against greenwashing?

What role is the private sector expected to play in scaling these land restoration projects, and what incentives are being offered to attract corporate partnerships?