Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) being held in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar was also part of the summit. This conference added to the global discourse on issues relating to the environment, especially land management. UNCCD was adopted in Paris on June 17, 1994, and was ratified by 196 countries and the European Union. India ratified the UNCCD Convention in 1996.