Under the theme "Our Land, Our Future," Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from 2 to 13 December 2024.
This will be the first time the Middle East region will host this conference. "The Earth Call" publishes a summary of the conference's expected agenda.
The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions—along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Today, 197 parties have signed the Convention and are meeting at the Conference of the Parties to Combat Desertification, which Saudi Arabia will host this year.
Conference Agenda
The issue of desertification is escalating daily; estimates place the annual land loss due to it at about 100 million hectares between 2015 and 2019. Therefore, COP16 comes to combat desertification with a rich agenda of topics, namely:
First and Second Days
High-level officials and leaders will convene on December 2 and 3 to expedite action on land, adapt to the spread of drought, and promote green transformation. These two days include several ministerial dialogues on specific issues: drought adaptation, financing, and migration.
Third-Day
December 4, Earth Day, discusses the issue of land degradation and its implications for biodiversity, food security, and climate. The day is expected to focus on three key areas: showcasing successful land restoration initiatives, highlighting nature-based solutions, and highlighting the role of private sector cooperation through the Business for Earth initiative.
This day also aims to achieve the goal of neutralizing land degradation by 2030, which not only contributes to achieving climate and biodiversity goals but also raises awareness about land degradation, supports solutions for its restoration and promotes its terminology.
Fourth-Day
December 5, Agri-Food System Day, aims to promote sustainable land management practices that protect and maintain healthy soils, thereby supporting crops and saving water.
This day also aims to enhance the participation of the private sector in transforming food systems and addressing the problem of social inequality. In line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations, it also focuses on addressing food loss and waste, providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss how to transition toward sustainable and resilient food systems.
Fifth-Day
December 6, Governance Day, underscores the significance of responsible land management in combating degradation, promoting inclusive development, upholding human rights, and ensuring fair and secure access to land, particularly for marginalized population groups like women and indigenous peoples.
The agenda of this day focuses on three main themes: integrated land use planning, which contributes to balancing demands and resources; different rural-urban linkages, which mitigate environmental degradation; and land tenure, which reduces poverty, supports sustainable land management, and enhances food security.
Sixth-Day
December 7, People’s Day, aims to highlight the crucial role of non-state actors in addressing desertification and land degradation, including women, youth, farmers, civil society organizations, and local governments.
This day is a wonderful opportunity to generate discussions between governmental and non-governmental actors to enhance the livelihoods of those affected by land degradation. It also provides a space to showcase success stories, and innovations, and share knowledge.
Seventh-day
December 9, Science, Technology, and Innovation Day. It aims to support scientific innovation for land health and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and communities using science. Academics, analysts, and civil society organizations actively participate in the day. The launch of an action plan to enhance sustainable land management efforts is expected in this day. It also provides a space for discussions on scientific and data gaps.
Eighth-Day
December 10, Resilience Day, aims to promote and address issues related to building land resilience in the face of climate change, the spread of drought, sand, and dust storms, and increasing land degradation. Participants will present innovative solutions that aim to enhance global cooperation, bolster early warning systems, and promote resilience pathways, especially for the most vulnerable communities.
Ninth-Day
Institutions, finance ministries, donors, and investment funds are among the stakeholders involved in financing on December 11. This, in turn, contributes to increasing awareness about land financing opportunities for its protection, preservation, and restoration, as well as for adapting to the global drought situation that is becoming worse due to climate change.
The conference will conclude in the next two days, providing an opportunity to combat and address the problem of desertification, which threatens our food security and negatively impacts the lives of 3.2 billion people worldwide.
