After 12 days of debates and negotiations in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, delegates of 197 parties (196 countries + the EU) who signed the United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification wrapped up the soConference of Parties (COP17) with note-worthy results.
Like in all previous COPs it proved difficult to achieve unanimity over a legally binding all-encompassing documents, especially at the time when the big powers question the mere principle of multilateralism.
