--- title: "UNCCD COP14 New Delhi: 2019 Summit | Model Diplomat" description: "UNCCD COP14 was the 2019 summit in New Delhi focused on combating desertification, producing key targets for land-degradation neutrality and policy insights." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/unccd-cop14-new-delhi" --- [New](https://modeldiplomat.com/) # Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026 TL;DR - UNCCD COP14 was the fourteenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, held in New Delhi from 2 to 13 September 2019. - What was the key outcome of UNCCD COP14? - How is the UNCCD COP different from the UNFCCC and CBD COPs? - What is land degradation neutrality and how does it relate to COP14? - Why is COP14 significant for UPSC General Studies preparation? [Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026 Go beyond the definition ## Research UNCCD COP14 New Delhi like a delegate Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students. ## Timeline 1. 13 September 2019 UNCCD COP14 was the fourteenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, held in New Delhi from 2 to . 2. 17 June 1994 The UNCCD itself was adopted in Paris on and entered into force on 26 December 1996, the only legally binding international agreement linking environment an… 3. 26 December 1996 The UNCCD itself was adopted in Paris on 17 June 1994 and entered into force on , the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and de… 4. 9 September 2019 A High-Level Segment, attended by ministers and heads of state, opened on and was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who delivered… ## Positions at a glance ### Supporters The proceedings followed the standard UNCCD architecture established by the Convention text. The plenary of the COP ran in parallel with the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) and the Committee on Science and Technology (CST), each producing recommendations forwarded to the plenary for adoption as numbered decisions. A High-Level Segment, attended by ministers and heads of state, opened on 9 September 2019 and was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who delivered the keynote and chaired the segment as host. Negotiations proceeded through contact groups and a Committee of the Whole, with the Global Mechanism and the Secretariat, both headquartered in Bonn, providing financial and technical support. The session concluded on 13 September with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, titled "Investing in Land and Unlocking Opportunities," a non-binding political statement summarising the collective ambition of the roughly 197 Parties. ### Opponents Substantively, COP14 advanced the operational concept of land degradation neutrality (LDN), the Convention's flagship target enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 15.3, which commits Parties to achieve a world where land degradation is balanced by restoration by 2030. India announced it would raise its national ambition to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, up from an earlier commitment of 21 million hectares. Modi proposed the creation of a global centre for technical knowledge on land degradation. Decisions addressed drought management, sand and dust storms, land tenure, gender, and the participation of the private sector through a new business forum. The CST reviewed the work of the Science-Policy Interface, while the CRIC examined progress reports submitted by Parties against agreed indicators, including land cover, land productivity, and soil organic carbon stocks. ## Research it like a delegate Research on modeldiplomat.com ## Ask a follow-up about UNCCD COP14 New Delhi Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers. [Start research on UNCCD COP14 New Delhi](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20UNCCD%20COP14%20New%20Delhi%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources) Example In September 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the High-Level Segment of UNCCD COP14 in New Delhi and pledged that India would restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Keep learning ## Go deeper than the definition [Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services) ## Take UNCCD COP14 New Delhi beyond the glossary Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.