COP17 desertification: Pompili denounces American blockades in Mongolia

The COP17 climate conference on desertification enters its second week in Mongolia, with negotiations now moving to the political level. Barbara Pompili, head of the French delegation, criticizes the United States' stance in the discussions.

Barbara Pompili, France's ambassador for the environment, doesn't mince words. During the second week of COP17 on desertification, held in Mongolia, she denounced Washington's behavior in the negotiations: "The United States is creating obstacles on many issues."

The conference, which brings together the States Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, is now moving into the political sphere, following an initial week devoted to technical work. It is at this stage that the positions of the major powers have the greatest impact on the outcome of the negotiations.

Pompili, who heads the French delegation to this COP, spoke on August 25, 2026, to provide an update on the conference's key issues and the risks of deadlock. Desertification affects nearly a third of the Earth's landmass and threatens hundreds of millions of people, particularly in the arid regions of Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America.

The American position, as described by the head of the French delegation, risks complicating the adoption of ambitious texts before the close of the conference.