Saudi Arabia Offers Multiple Paths to International Solutions for Combating Land Degradation at COP16 Riyadh
The program for the upcoming United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 in Riyadh from December 2 to 13 has been unveiled, featuring a dual approach of a Negotiation Track and Action Agenda to foster international solutions to the urgent global crises caused by land degradation, desertification, and drought.
The Negotiation Track will focus on reaching decisive and practical decisions from the Parties to the Convention, ensuring they can be implemented in record time. Simultaneously, the Action Agenda will encourage and showcase voluntary initiatives, innovation, and practical solutions vital to restoring land and tackling drought across a range of thematic days during the Riyadh conference.
The high-level segment of COP16 will feature ministerial dialogues on enhancing drought resilience capacities, financing, and the impact of land degradation and drought on forced migration, security, and prosperity, along with other relevant issues such as innovation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable land management.
"COP16 in Riyadh is a critical moment for the international community to address land degradation, drought, and desertification. From food and water insecurity to climate change, conflict, instability, forced migration, and how we treat our land has a profound impact on lives and livelihoods around the world,” said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency.
He added: "As the hosts, we are presiding over the first Green Zone at a UNCCD COP to mobilize the scientific community, businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, and the public to deliver lasting change. At the same time, we are engaging policymakers from around the world in a range of high-level discussions to deliver important actions formulated and adopted by multiple parties. This dual approach is vital to accelerating the land restoration and drought resilience initiatives our planet and its people so desperately need".
Alongside the Negotiation Track, an Action Agenda will take place throughout COP16, featuring dedicated thematic days to refine discussions and accelerate outcomes. Seven thematic days will be held jointly in the Green and Blue Zones, including Land Day on December 4, Agri-food System Day on December 5, Governance Day on December 6, People’s Day on December 7, Science, Technology, and Innovation Day on December 9, Resilience Day on December 10, and Finance Day on December 11.
Land degradation affects nearly 40% of the planet and impacts the lives of over 3.2 billion people, according to the UNCCD. Data strongly indicates that action is urgently needed, with issues surrounding land degradation, desertification, and drought only worsening. Every year, 100 million hectares of land are degraded based on UNCCD findings, and drought frequency and intensity has increased by nearly a third since 2000. Land restoration and drought resilience initiatives continue to suffer from a significant lack of funding, with COP16 set to prioritize mobilizing public and private sector finance to accelerate corrective actions.
