A New Era For Land Restoration as UNCCD COP16 Kicks Off In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

09 December 2024, Saudi Arabia: This week marks the beginning of a milestone for global land restoration and drought resilience as delegates gather in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) under the theme “Our Land. Our Future”.

The COP, which has met biennially since 2001, coincides this year with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, bringing together countries, scientists, the private sector, and civil society to discuss and decide on strategies to address desertification, land degradation, and drought to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN).

For the first time, COP16 is being hosted in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. And Saudi Arabia, as chair of this COP, has emphasized environmental sustainability and economic diversification through initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.

The COP is the UNCCD’s main decision-making body and is responsible for guiding the Convention so that it can respond to global challenges and national needs and mark the route to accelerated land restoration and enhanced resilience against drought. As was mentioned by the Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Ibrahim Thiaw, in the opening session of the plenary: “land restoration emerges as one of the most effective tools to address some of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change, food insecurity, economic inequality, forced migration and even global instability”.

The negotiation agenda for COP16 has 10 decisions for consideration, while other relevant issues are also debated in the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) and the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC). Regarding the new policy areas under discussion, the COP will consider the request made by Botswana and supported by Uruguay regarding grassland and rangeland issues in the COP 16 agenda. Also, the request submitted by the United States of America for the inclusion of “Innovation and technology in ecologically sustainable agrifood systems” as an item on the COP 16 agenda would be referred to CST for consideration. Other key issues and highlights for deliberation include:

• Launching the Global Drought Agenda: A key highlight is the submission of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought’s (IWGD) report. Delegates will discuss options ranging from legally binding instruments to a global framework for proactive drought risk management. The report emphasizes tools such as vulnerability assessments, early warning systems, and innovative drought finance mechanisms, including blended financing and public-private partnerships.
•  Land Tenure: Secure land tenure underpins efforts to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). This decision prioritizes the inclusion of women and marginalized groups in land governance systems.
• Bridging the Gap in Gender Equality: Gender-responsive policies are central to COP16’s agenda. Proposed measures include collecting sex-disaggregated data, improving women’s access to land rights, and developing indicators to ensure that restoration initiatives are equitable and inclusive.
• Reviewing the Strategic Framework: A midterm evaluation of the 2018–2030 Strategic Framework will inform discussions on the Convention’s post-2030 strategy. Deliberations will focus a comprehensive process of exchange among Parties to reaffirm political commitment and enhance collaboration taking into account new trends and recognizing that everyone is affected.
• Building Synergies Across Conventions: A recurring theme at COP16 is the need for integrated approaches that link the objectives of the three Rio Conventions—UNCCD, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Proposed actions include joint science-policy publications, pilot projects, and data-sharing initiatives.
• Financial Needs Assessment: The financial needs assessment provides a critical foundation for discussions on resource mobilization, including exploring new funding sources and partnerships to meet the Convention’s goals.

COP16 is a platform for action not only for negotiations. It provides the opportunity to influence global policies, as the decisions made in Riyadh will shape the trajectory of international efforts to address land degradation and build resilience to drought. Scientists have a pivotal role to play, not just in informing policy but also in ensuring its effective implementation.

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