COP16 in Riyadh: Game-changer in combat against desertification

The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December 2024.

According to Report, COP16 will be the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The theme of COP 16 is Our Land. Our Future. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global voice for land and one of the three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity. COP16 is poised to be a game-changer, marking a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.

On 17 October, the distinguished panelists discussed “COP16: Expectations and Reality Check”. The event was collaborated by Vision for Sustainable Africa (VSA), Center for Sustainability and Climate (Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia) and Report News Agency, Azerbaijan, UNGC, UNCCD, UNESCO and FBN.

The distinguished panelists include: Professor Dr. Mohammad Nurunnabi (Founder & President - Vision for Sustainable Africa (VSA); Founding Director - Center for Sustainability and Climate; Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia; Academic Visitor - University of Oxford; and Founding President & CEO – Global, Oxford Impact Group); Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy (Director, G20 Global Initiative on Land, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification - UNCCD); Ms. Beverly Smith (Head of Partnerships and International Organizations for the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre (STGC), Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia); Ms. Katrin Kohl (Co-Chair, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, York University, Canada); Mr. Fernando Castellanos (Head, Environment and Climate, United Nations Global Compact, USA). The participants were from 37 countries.

Nurunnabi said the conference in Riyadh will focus on land restoration, drought management, and synergy between Rio Conventions. The webinar participants noted that increased business and private sector engagement is expected at COP16, emphasis will be placed on sustainable tourism and its role in sustainable development, and importance of education and public awareness about desertification issues. The speakers noted that there are some challenges that still need to be addressed in the upcoming COP16 - Land degradation still outpacing restoration efforts, need for effective drought management mechanisms globally, increasing private sector involvement and stake in outcomes, creating understanding of desertification impacts in non-arid countries, and addressing interconnected issues of food security, biodiversity loss, and climate change. “We are looking forward to increased youth participation in COP16. Around the world, young people are setting up new business ventures. Over the past two years, we have been looking at such young people who see land restoration as a business opportunity like AI based tool for sustainable agriculture,” said Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy.

Experts mentioned several important recommendations, opportunities and hope - increased youth participation and entrepreneurship in land restoration, focus on African youth as key stakeholders in future solutions, potential for new green jobs and startups in land restoration sector, improving land rights and management for women, indigenous peoples, and local communities, and business opportunities in sustainable land and water management. According to Professor Dr. Mohammad Nurunnabi, there are a lot of things that are happening around the globe, "but, nevertheless, we are hopeful, and we have expectations to combat desertification and create more sustainable land management, business opportunities and youth engagement. Of course, together, we can achieve this.”