The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2 to 13 December 2024. This pivotal event marks a critical milestone in the global fight against land degradation and desertification.
A Moonshot Moment for Land and Drought Resilience
COP16 presents a unique opportunity to elevate global ambition and intensify action on land restoration and drought resilience through a people-centered approach. As one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity, the UNCCD is the world’s leading platform addressing land issues. The convention serves as a powerful voice advocating for sustainable land management and combating desertification, which affects millions of people across the globe.
Our Land. Our Future.
Taking place under the theme “Our Land. Our Future.”, COP16 will focus on building stronger land resilience while addressing the urgent challenges posed by desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD). This session is particularly significant as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and will be the largest UN land conference to date. For the first time, the event will be hosted in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region—a region deeply familiar with the devastating impacts of land degradation.
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Global Commitment to Land Restoration
COP16 is expected to be a game-changer, marking a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment in land restoration. Governments, NGOs, and the private sector will come together to explore innovative solutions and enhance land resilience, not just for environmental sustainability but for economic and social benefits as well.
As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres starkly noted, “We depend on land for our survival. Yet we treat it like dirt.” His words underscore the critical need for a shift in how we manage and protect the land that sustains life on Earth. COP16 will seek to catalyze this shift, focusing on investments and actions that restore degraded lands, boost food security, and protect vulnerable communities from the growing threats of climate change and drought.
By promoting sustainable land management and restoring ecosystems, COP16 aims to drive progress on achieving global land restoration targets, helping to mitigate climate impacts while supporting millions of people whose livelihoods depend on healthy land.
With global attention turning toward Riyadh in December, COP16 stands as a beacon of hope for the future of our planet’s land and the people who rely on it.
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