Egypt to Host the 18th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in 2028

Cairo, August 30 (KUNA) -- The delegations of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) unanimously adopted a decision awarding the Arab Republic of Egypt the hosting rights for the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP18) in 2028. This decision was taken during the closing session of the conference, held in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, from August 17 to 28.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stated in a statement on Sunday that the consensus on Egypt’s hosting of the next session of the conference reflects the confidence and appreciation accorded to Egypt for its active role in climate and environmental issues, as well as in multilateral efforts. This follows the success Egypt achieved in hosting the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in 2022 and the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP14) in 2018.

The statement added that Egypt’s selection to host the conference is a culmination of the national efforts made in recent years and the coordination undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with relevant ministries and entities, notably the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, which serves as the national focal point for the Convention.

The UNCCD is one of the conventions emerging from the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It entered into force in 1996 and focuses on combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought worldwide, thereby contributing to efforts to achieve water and food security. The African continent also holds special priority under the Convention, further underscoring the significance of Egypt’s hosting of the next conference session. (End) A.S.M. / A.M.H.