Saudi Arabia has called on the world’s policymakers to urgently address land degradation, drought and desertification ahead of the 16th UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP16 in Riyadh in December 2024.
According to COP16 President and KSA Minister of Environment Eng Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy land becomes degraded, totalling 100 million hectares every year.
At the recent Road to Riyadh event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, opened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia urged delegates to prepare to take decisive action in December, outlining a roadmap for international action and engagement and unveiling the thematic program for the COP.
Commenting on the call, AlFadley says that this is a pivotal moment for our planet.
“Land restoration is vital to securing a prosperous future for generations to come. It is crucial the international community unites to deliver ambitious and lasting solutions that curb land degradation, combat drought, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. We must strengthen international cooperation to address the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet,” says AlFadley.
AlFadley also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 reflects its commitment to environmental preservation and restoration, both domestically and internationally, citing initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and the G20 Global Land Initiative.
“While land degradation trends vary across regions, UNCCD data warns that, if current patterns continue, the world will need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 to meet the Land Degradation Neutrality targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. In Riyadh, under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of COP16, there will be a strong push for more concrete commitments to accelerate restoration efforts and meet this critical goal,” says AlFadley.
Senior stakeholders from international organizations, government and civil society will also address the growing need to increase ambition and address the global challenges caused by land degradation, including drought, food insecurity and forced migration, alongside the urgent need for multilateral action to them to tackle them.
According to UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, land degradation and drought affect nearly half the world’s population, especially indigenous communities, smallholder farmers, women, and youth.
“COP16 in Riyadh will be a pivotal moment to accelerate large-scale land restoration and boost drought resilience, with multiple benefits for people, nature and climate. Our success depends on the ambition of all parties and our commitment to resetting our relationship with the land for future generations,” says Thiaw.
According to Thiaw, up to 40% of the world’s land is already degraded, directly affecting an estimated 3.2 billion people. At the same time, droughts are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity – up 29% since 2000. An estimated 75% of people globally will be affected by drought by 2050.
Notes from the editor: The conference will take place 2-13 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and will be the first UNCCD COP to feature a Green Zone, providing a space for business and civil society to deliver lasting solutions to land degradation, desertification and drought. For more information, please visit UNCCDCOP16.org.
