UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Delegates from 196 countries and the EU opened UNCCD COP17, aiming to mobilize public and private money for land restoration and drought resilience, with talks focused on rangelands, sustainable agriculture, soils and private-sector engagement. COP17 on the ground: Mongolia’s Monnis Group launched a “Green Station” in Ulaanbaatar that can charge 10 EVs at once, with plans for more stations under the “Let’s Liberate” push to cut fuel dependence. Restoration projects: Monpolymet is showcasing its “Build Green Land” model, citing large-scale biological rehabilitation, pasture restoration, tree planting and water-related work. International spotlight: China’s “China Corner” exhibition highlights its desertification-control approach, including the Great Green Wall and grassland restoration efforts. Local pressure point: Mongolia’s fuel crisis is easing after weekend rule changes, but drivers still report long queues and disrupted station operations. Economy & labor: Mongolia will raise the monthly minimum wage by 26.3% to 1,000,000 tugriks from Jan. 1, 2027. Energy transition risk: A report warns wind’s supply chain faces growing fragility as rare-earth sourcing and global bottlenecks ripple through turbine production.