Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded on Saturday, marking the end of a two-week summit focused on tackling some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Delegates from around the world adopted 39 significant decisions, including a procedural move to continue discussions on a new drought framework at the next COP meeting in Mongolia in 2026. Despite some delays due to stalled negotiations, the conference ended on a hopeful note.
A groundbreaking pledge of over $12 billion was announced to fight desertification, land degradation, and drought, especially in the world’s most vulnerable countries. One of the key initiatives unveiled was the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, attracting $12.15 billion to support 80 nations in building resilience against drought.
“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,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. “It’s a landmark initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time.”
Thiaw emphasized that COP16 has elevated the land and drought agenda beyond sector-specific discussions, establishing it as a cornerstone of global efforts to tackle interconnected issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, migration, and global security.
COP16 President Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to land restoration. “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,” he stated.
Held under the theme “Our Land. Our Future.“, COP16 is the largest UN land-focused conference to date and the first UNCCD COP hosted in the Middle East and North Africa. The gathering has set the stage for global cooperation in preserving our planet for future generations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
