The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded early in Riyadh, resulting in the adoption of 39 significant decisions. One of the standout outcomes was a procedural decision on drought, which saw parties agreeing to continue discussions with the goal of finalizing a comprehensive drought framework at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.
Amidst some last-minute postponements, COP16 successfully secured over $12 billion pledged globally to address desertification, land degradation, and drought, particularly targeting the most vulnerable nations. A major highlight was the announcement of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which garnered $12.15 billion to support 80 of the world's most at-risk countries in building resilience against drought.
Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, expressed optimism in his closing remarks, stating, \"While parties need more time to agree on the best way forward to address the critical issue of drought, I am filled with hope with the launching of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, a landmark initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time.\" He emphasized that COP16 elevated the land and drought agenda, making it a cornerstone of global efforts to tackle interconnected challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, migration, and global security.
COP16 President Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to land restoration, stating, \"We hope the outcomes of this session will lead to a significant shift that strengthens efforts to preserve land, reduce its degradation, build capacities to address drought, and contribute to the well-being of communities around the world.\"
Held from December 2 to 13 under the theme \"Our Land. Our Future,\" COP16 stands as the largest UN land-focused conference to date and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
