The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will kick off in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Monday, December 2 to 13, 2024, under the slogan "Our Land... Our Future."
The COP16 represents one of the main gatherings of the three core environmental treaties known as the "Rio Conventions," which include desertification, climate change, and biodiversity.
The largest-ever summit
The COP16 is the largest-ever gathering of the 197 parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the first to take place in the Middle East and North Africa region, according to the Climate Chance Association website.
On June 17 of last year, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the only legally binding international treaty on land and drought management, celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The event is also the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.
A unique platform
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is the global platform where governments, businesses, and civil society can come together to discuss current challenges and chart a sustainable future for the planet.
The conference is also more than just an important event—it represents a launch moment to raise global ambition and accelerate efforts to combat land degradation and drought through a human-centered approach.
Turning point
The Conference of the Parties is the main decision-making body for the 197 parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification—196 countries and the European Union.
The event is expected to be a turning point, representing a renewed global commitment to accelerating investment and action to restore land and enhance resilience to drought for the benefit of people and the planet.
Focus areas
The COP16 will primarily focus on the following areas:
• Land restoration
• The ability to withstand drought
• The land at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals
• Women's rights to land
The seriousness of desertification
Desertification is one of the greatest environmental threats we face in our era. Desertification refers to the drying of lands due to reduced rainfall, agricultural expansion, poor irrigation practices, deforestation, and overgrazing.
Climate change exacerbates desertification: Currently, around two billion people live in arid lands prone to desertification, which could lead to the displacement of an estimated 50 million people by 2030.
If people cannot grow food, they will need to move to an area where they can, increasing the risk of desertification and having negative impacts on landscapes, wildlife, and human health.
Conference participants
There are various categories of participants in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification conferences: representatives of the 197 parties to the convention, members of officially accredited observer organizations, and representatives of the press and media.
The observer organizations include the United Nations and international organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations, and commercial entities.
The Conference of the Parties invites accredited observers to attend and make statements at official meetings and negotiations in the Blue Zone.
While the Green Zone at COP16 will be open to the public, visitors are invited to explore Earth-related exhibitions on innovative technologies, communication, restoration efforts, and inclusive activities for all segments of society.
