Global dignitaries, policymakers, scientists, and NGOs will engage in intense discussions as part of the ‘critical’ UN meeting to restore land at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The meeting began today and will continue till 13 December. It has called for global efforts to restore land and boost drought resilience.
The theme of “Our Land. Our Future,” this event marks a milestone as the largest UN land-focused conference to date and the first UNCCD COP to take place in the Middle East and North Africa region. It has an action-packed agenda to drive multilateral action on land degradation, drought and desertification.
The first few days of UNCCD COP16 are set to see a number of high-profile summits, ministerial dialogues, and announcements to address the pressing challenges associated with land degradation and drought. The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative aims to accelerate international action on drought resilience and ensure a more cohesive and proactive global approach to tackling drought.
Bolstering global drought resilience is a focal point of COP16. In addition, the high-level One Water Summit will address global water scarcity and water challenges. Originally announced on the sidelines of COP28 in partnership with Saudi Arabia, the summit aims to enhance global water governance and will feature involvement from the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the President of the World Bank Ajay Banga.
“This is a critical moment to address land degradation, drought and desertification,” said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency. “For too long these devastating global crises have not received the attention they deserve on the international stage. As hosts, we welcome the world to Riyadh to help find lasting solutions. We will deliver the largest UNCCD COP to date, to mobilize multilateral action on land restoration and drought resilience,” Dr. Faqeeha added.
Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency is also set to strengthen the Action Agenda, by encouraging governments and non-state actors to champion initiatives that deliver lasting solutions for land degradation, desertification and drought. As part of the COP16 Presidency, Saudi Arabia intends to work with the champions of these initiatives to strengthen the synergies among them over the next two years.
“The Action Agenda under COP16 sets out an ambitious vision and goals to harness the collective energies of non-state actors, including businesses, farmers, regions, cities, financial institutions, investors, civil society and indigenous people, to catalyse practical solutions and drive measurable progress towards the goals of the UNCCD,” said Nigel Topping, Ambition Loop Founder and former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP26.
COP16 in Riyadh is the first UNCCD conference to be held in the Middle East region, the first to feature a Green Zone and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia. According to the UNCCD, land degradation affects nearly 40% of the planet and impacts the lives of over 3.2 billion people. Every year 100 million hectares of land are degraded, with drought frequency and intensity increasing by nearly a third since 2000.
Returning after its successful launch at COP28, SGI Talks will feature international and Saudi climate experts, offering insights and discussions on sustainability trends and innovations. These 30-minute daily sessions will address issues such as renewable energy innovations, sustainable land use, and youth empowerment in climate action.
