Kristian Vigenin from Ulaanbaatar: Land restoration must be turned into concrete policies and investment

The fourth edition of the Global Academy for Parliamentarians as Champions of Change (G-CAP 2026) has opened in Ulaanbaatar, with Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin taking part. This year the academy is being held alongside the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, UNCCD COP17.

The key question for participants is how international commitments on land restoration can be turned into concrete laws, investment and policies. Parliamentarians from five continents are taking part in the discussions, and the programme includes expert sessions, masterclasses and a parliamentary forum.

The start of the academy coincided with the opening of COP17’s high-level political segment. At the opening, the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, highlighted the link between the state of the land, food, health and security.

Particular attention was also paid to financing. UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad stressed the need to treat investment in land restoration as a long-term investment in economic and social resilience.

For the European Union, the topic is becoming increasingly relevant, from protecting and restoring soils and nature to sustainable farming, water management and adapting to climate change.

As part of the programme, Vigenin will take part in discussions on the role of parliaments in implementing international commitments and on the European experience in this area. One of the main questions is how decisions agreed at international level can be reflected in practice in legislation, budgets and public policies.