(6th Meeting) Committee on Science and Technology - UNCCD COP17

I call to order the sixth meeting of the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology.
Distinguished delegates, I would like to inform you of how I propose to proceed with our work in this meeting.
I'll first take up the draft decisions that are ready for action by agenda item.
After the committee has taken action on the draft decisions, I'll open the floor to statements by parties and observers.
Thereafter, the committee will consider the report of its 17th session, resume consideration of the election of officers other than the chair, and close the session.
Due to the short turnaround, the committee would proceed on the basis of advanced documents available in English only.
May I take it that the committee agrees to the arrangement that I have just read out? I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
I invite the committee to resume its consideration of Agenda Item two and its sub Item A, synthesis report of the activities of the Science Policy interface in order to take action on the draft decision entitled Activities of the Science Policy Interface, which will be issued as an L document.
May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the draft decision and recommend it to the conference for adoption.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of sub items A and B of Agenda Item two and of Agenda item two as a whole.
I invite the committee to resume its consideration of Agenda Item four, future functioning of the Science Policy Interface, in order to take action on the draft decision entitled Procedures and Technical Support for the future functioning of the Science Policy Interface, which will be issued as an L document.
May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the draft decision and recommend it to the conference for adoption.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of Agenda Item four.
I invite the committee to resume its consideration of agenda item five, avoiding, reducing and reversing and and soil degradation of agricultural lands in order to take action on the draft decision entitled avoiding, reducing and reversing and and soil degradation of agricultural lands, which will be issued as document ICCD slash cop 17 slash CST slash L.
May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the draft decision and recommend it to the conference for adoption.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item five.
I invite the committee to resume its consideration of Agenda Item six and it's sub item A, Work Program for the Science Policy Interface 2027 to 2030, in order to take action on the draft decision six entitled Work Program for the Science Policy Interface for the 2027 to 2030 quadraum, which will be issued as an L document.
May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the draft decision and recommend it to the conference for adoption.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of sub Item A of Agenda Item six.
I invite the committee to resume its consideration of Agenda Item six B, program of work for the 18th session of the Committee on Science and Technology in order to take action on the draft decision entitled Program of work for the 18th session of the Committee on Science and Technology, which will be issued as an L document.
May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the draft decision and recommend it to the conference for adoption.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of sub Item B of Agenda Item six and of agenda item six as a whole.
I now open the floor for statements by parties, regional, and interest groups, and observers on the decisions just adopted.
Those wishing to take the floor are requested to press the microphone button now.
I see no requests for the floor.
I now invite the committee to turn its attention to Agenda Item seven entitled adoption of the Report of the Committee on Science and Technology.
I now give the floor to Mr.
Shea Asdak, Vice Chair and rapporteur of the committee to provide a brief summary of the outcomes of the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology.
Mr.
Chair, Distinguished delegate, the Committee on Science and Technology at its 17th session, held six plenary meetings 2018-28 August 2026.
At its first plenary meeting, the committee adopted the provincial agenda contained in document ICCD slash COP 17 slash CSD slash one with the exception of agenda item two and sub items two A and two B on the understanding that they would remain under consultation and consider at a later stage.
Subsequently, At its fifth plenary meeting on 28 August, the committee decided to include agenda item two and sub items two A and B in the agenda of its 17th session.
The parties also considered that adopted items on the agenda of CSD 17, including sub items B of agenda item three jointly with the committee for the review of the implementation of the convention at the fourth meeting of the committee.
The committee decided to establish a CSD contact group and appointed Mr.
Joseph Noel of Granada as facilitator of the group.
A joint SSD C contact group was also established to address sub item B of agenda item three entitled improving Procures for the communication of information, as well as the quality and formats of reports to be submitted to the conference of the parties.
Consultation in the joint contact group were also co facilitated by Mr.
Joseph Noel of Granada and Mr.
Charles Lane of Kenya.
The CSD conduct group discussed and agreed upon five draft decisions which were submitted to the committee for action.
The committee at its last meeting on the 28, August 2026, adopted the following draft decision, which will be issued as documents and recommended them to the conference for adoption.
Under agenda item two, items resulting from the work program of the science policy interface for the Bum 2025, 2026, and it item A, the committee adopted one draft decision entitled Activities of the Science Policy Interface.
Under agenda item four, the draft decision entitled Procedures and Technical Support for the future functioning of the science policy interface.
Under agenda item five, the draft decision entitled avoiding, reducing and reshing land and soil degradation of agricultural lands.
Under agenda item six, and it's subs items A and B, to draft decision entitled, Work Program for the Science Policy Interface for the 2027 2030 ranium and Program of work for the acting session of the Committee on Science and Technology.
Mr.
Chair, distinguished delicates, getting close to the end of my term, allow me to say that it has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as vice chair and rapporteur of the committee.
I would also like to express my deep gratitude for your trust in appointing me as rapporteur of the 17th session of the committee.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I thank the rapporteur for the statement.
Are there any comments on the report of the rapporteur? I see none.
May I take it that the committee wishes to approve the draft report of its 17th session and agrees to entrust the rapporteur with its finalization with the support of the Secretariat.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of Agenda Item seven.
I now invite the committee to resume its consideration of Agenda Item one entitled Organizational Matters, and it's sub Item B entitled Election of Offices other than the Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology.
Pursuant to paragraph two of Decision 25 slash cop ten, which amended Rule 31 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties, the vice chairs of the committee on Science and Technology shall be elected at the final meeting of the session of the committee held in conjunction with the session of the conference of the parties and shall assume office immediately.
The committee shall elect four vice chairs, one of whom shall act as rapporteur.
The committee has before it the following candidates for election as vice chairs of the committee at its 18th session.
Miss Jia Xiao Xi of China for the Group of Asian states, Mr.
Melkis Maradigo of Honduras for the Group of Latin America and Caribbean states, Mr.
Michael Bruntrum of Germany for the Group of Western European and other states.
May I take it that the committee wishes to elect the candidates just announced as vice chairs of the Committee on Science and Technology at its 18th session.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
On behalf of the committee, I congratulate the elected members of the Bureau.
One vice chair of Central and Eastern Europe remains to be elected.
The committee will postpone the election of the remaining vice chair from the group of Central and Eastern Europe to a later date.
The committee has thus concluded its consideration of sub Item B of agenda Item one and of agenda item one as a whole.
Distinguished delegates, we have thus completed our program of work for the 17th session of the committee on Science and Technology.
Before closing, I would like to share some reflections with you.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues and friends.
As we conclude the 17th session of the committee on Science and Technology, I'd like to reflect on our accomplishments and the constructive spirit that has guided our work over the past days.
CST 17 has demonstrated once again, the value of a science driven dialogue and the commitment of parties to strengthening the scientific foundations of the convention.
We arrived with an ambitious agenda shaped by the evolving needs of the convention.
It has been clear from parties interventions in our plenary meetings, our joint meeting with the critic and discussions among our contact groups that there's a really strong desire to strengthen science and technologies underpinning implementation of the convention.
Over the last two weeks, we reviewed guidance relative to global aridity trends and drought, considered options to further enhance the relevance and usability of scientific information for decision makers, consider the role of agriculture in combating desertification, land degradation, and drought, and had rigorous discussions about the future functioning of the SPI and its work program.
The committee has made meaningful progress on these fronts.
In the end, through these discussions, you have reinforced the vital role that rigorous, credible and policy relevant science plays in enabling parties to address desertification, land degradation, and drought more effectively.
The committee has recognized agricultural lands and soils are central to achieving land degradation neutrality.
The agriculture decision encourages parties to implement evidence based approaches to apply the land degradation neutrality response hierarchy and to strengthen the enabling conditions for sustainable land management.
Building on decision 20 of cop 16 in which parties decided to establish a standing science policy interface.
In CST 17, the parties have discussed in detail procedures that provide a basis to ensure that flagship reports, Fast Track assessments, and information products prepared by the SPI are scientifically rigorous and relevant to the parties needs.
Critically, the agenda item on the work of the SPI in this biennium was adopted this morning for the CST to consider.
I thank the parties for their efforts to ensure that the hard work and products of the SPI are seen and recognized by the parties.
My heartfelt thanks go to the members of the science policy interface.
Your technical expertise, dedication, and innovative thinking continue to elevate the quality and policy relevance of the committee's work.
The SPIs contributions through this biennium have proven how essential their role is in bridging scientific knowledge with practical decision making.
We're grateful for your continued partnership and for the forward looking perspectives you bring to our collective efforts.
I'd also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the CST Bureau and rapporteur and to the COP Bureau for their leadership and steady support throughout this session, especially in the days when I was unwell.
Your guidance has helped steer our work and ensure that our discussions have remained productive, thank you.
To all parties, thank you for your active engagement and thoughtful interventions which have enriched our discussions.
The experiences and viewpoints you bring to this committee and ability to work together to find solutions to cross cutting issues, difficult terms, and Barron's naughty words is really inspiring.
Your commitment to grounding UN CCD implementation in robust science is evidence in the careful attention and constructive dialogue you've brought to this session.
I'd also like to acknowledge the invaluable support provided by the Secretariat and Mr.
Joseph Noel, whose preparation and facilitation have created space for meaningful negotiations.
It's been a pleasure working with you and experiencing your dedication to the implementation of the convention.
To all observers, technical partners and stakeholders who contributed insights and expertise.
We appreciate your continued collaboration and your dedication to advancing our shared objectives.
Finally, I'd like to extend a special thank you to the Cop 16 presidency and to the Cop 17 presidency and government and people of Mongolia.
It's been a treat visiting Mongolia and your hospitality and efforts to ensure a successful Cop 17 have been amazing.
Thank you all, and I look forward to our ongoing collaboration.
I hereby declare close the 17th session of the Committee on Science and Technology.