Razan Al Mubarak, the UN Climate Champion for COP28, has emphasized the need to stimulate collective action to meet global goals for 2030. These goals include reclaiming and developing at least 350 million hectares of degraded land and ensuring a systemic qualitative shift in land use, food, energy, and industry systems to protect the Earth’s ecosystems, the WAM news agency reported.
Al Mubarak’s remarks came during her speech at an event organized by the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, titled “Achieving a Paradigm Shift in Land Use: Developing Land and Protecting Ecosystems to Support Nature by 2030,” as part of the COP29 conference, held in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.
Defining Moment
Al Mubarak pointed out that the world is at a crucial juncture that necessitates utilizing all available tools for change, as the three Rio conventions on biodiversity, climate, and desertification are holding their conferences of the parties this year.
She highlighted the importance of directing global climate action efforts toward supporting the “Climate Breakthroughs for 2030,” which are essential for implementing land-based climate solutions in alignment with the “Global Biodiversity Framework.” This framework aims to protect 30% of lands and oceans by 2030.
She stated, “As climate champions, we are committed to collaborating with leading non-state actors and the Marrakech Partnership to accelerate a transition away from fossil fuels, protect and restore nature, and increase financial flows to support action on the ground.”
COP28: Watershed Moment for Climate Issues
According to Al Mubarak, the UAE’s COP28 marked "a watershed moment" for recognizing the critical role of nature in combating climate change. For the first time, all member states agreed on a global target of zero deforestation by 2030. However, she cautioned that the current numbers are not where they need to be.
Al Mubarak noted that the global deforestation rate increased by 2% last year, while the world should achieve a 10% reduction to meet the net-zero goals. Additionally, the current forest restoration efforts fell short; only 6.5 million hectares of tree cover were restored annually, whereas 22 million hectares should be restored per year.
Role of Indigenous Peoples
Al Mubarak emphasized that nature-based solutions must be deeply rooted in scientific evidence and traditional ecological knowledge to drive effective action and implementation.
Finally, she concluded, "We must remember that it is the people on the ground—Indigenous Peoples—who are central to making land and ecosystems nature-positive. Although Indigenous Peoples constitute less than 5% of the global population, they manage one-quarter of Earth's terrestrial surface, encompassing 37% of natural lands. Their inclusion in nature-based solutions and the recognition of their rights are essential."
