The world’s largest land-focused conference kicked off in Riyadh on Monday, as global leaders and delegates gathered for the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Running until December 13 under the theme “Our Land. Our Future,” the event marks a significant milestone as the first UNCCD COP to be held in the Middle East and North Africa region.
In his opening address, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, emphasized the crucial role of land restoration in addressing some of the greatest challenges of our time. “Land restoration is one of the most effective tools to tackle climate change, food insecurity, economic inequality, forced migration, and even global instability,” he stated.
Thiaw warned that by 2050, up to 7.5 billion people could feel the impacts of drought if immediate action is not taken. “Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation and build a more resilient world to drought,” he urged.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, highlighted the urgent need to address land degradation. “More than 3 billion people are impacted by land degradation each year due to the loss of 100 million hectares of land, forests, and grasslands,” he noted. “This increases levels of migration and threatens stability and security among many communities.”
As the UNCCD marks its 30th anniversary, delegates at COP16 are expected to collaborate on accelerating land restoration efforts, enhancing resilience to droughts and sandstorms, restoring soil health, and scaling up sustainable food production by 2030 and beyond.
For young people across the globe, especially in regions heavily affected by land degradation and drought, the outcomes of this conference could shape the future of our planet. The collective actions decided upon in Riyadh have the potential to secure a healthier, more sustainable world for generations to come.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
