Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) began in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, alongside the publication of the first stories from a UNESCO-supported journalism initiative. On the opening day, the Mongolian National News Agency (MONTSAME) published an article examining climate change's effects on cultural heritage and the importance of science-based conservation policies, spotlighting the restoration of the Golden Stupa at Erdene Zuu Monastery. This report was the first in a series produced during COP17 .
The Climate, Cultural Heritage and Geopark Journalism Capacity-Building Programme is organized by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia in collaboration with the Press Institute of Mongolia (PIM). It is part of the UNESCO-Rio Tinto Mongolia project, “Supporting Sustainable Tourism in Mongolia through Cultural and Geo-Heritage (2024-2026)” .
The program, implemented from May to August 2026 under the guidance of climate journalism expert Boris van Westering, provided an editorial pathway to guide journalists from story conception to publication. Activities included three online pitch clinics, two in-person sessions connecting reporters with scientists and heritage specialists, and training on identifying climate misinformation and data visualization. A session with UNCCD experts informed participants about key COP17 topics .
The initiative concluded with a two-day in-person bootcamp where journalists refined their stories using a framework emphasizing human-centered narratives, clear stakes, accessible science, solution orientation, rigorous verification, and transparent disclosure of artificial intelligence use. The bootcamp opened with remarks from Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, who highlighted the importance of independent journalism for climate action. Participants also used UNESCO's "Reporting the Environment: A Practical Manual for Journalists" and heard from a Mongolian broadcaster experienced with UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil .