Riyadh UNCCD COP16: A Global Summit for Land Restoration and Drought Resilience

The largest-ever meeting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is set to commence in Riyadh, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, businesses, and NGOs to tackle the urgent challenges of land degradation, drought, and desertification. This monumental event, known as COP16, will run from December 2 to 13, driving multilateral action and fostering innovative solutions for global land restoration and drought resilience.

Full Review

The conference will kick off with a series of high-profile summits, ministerial dialogues, and key announcements. Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD Presidency will launch the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative on December 2, aiming to enhance international collaboration on drought resilience and establish proactive measures to combat global drought challenges.

A major highlight of COP16 will be the One Water Summit on December 3, focusing on global water scarcity and governance. The summit, in partnership with Saudi Arabia, will feature prominent leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Simultaneously, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum will take place from December 2-3, hosting policymakers, business leaders, and experts in the SGI Pavilion within COP16’s Green Zone. The forum will showcase progress under SGI’s energy and environmental tracks while exploring best practices and future projections.

From December 6-8, the Second International Forum on Greening Technologies will convene tailored sessions to exhibit global restoration projects, innovative solutions, and scientific research. This event aims to address critical issues of land degradation, drought, and desertification that have long been overlooked.

Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency is dedicated to advancing the Action Agenda, encouraging governments and non-state actors to lead initiatives addressing land degradation and desertification. Over the next two years, the Kingdom aims to strengthen synergies among these initiatives to achieve sustainable, measurable progress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh marks a pivotal moment in addressing global challenges of land degradation, drought, and desertification. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and practical solutions, this event sets the stage for meaningful progress towards achieving UNCCD goals and ensuring a sustainable future for all.

FAQs

1. What is the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative?

   The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative aims to enhance international collaboration on drought resilience and establish proactive measures to combat global drought challenges.

2. Who are the prominent leaders attending the One Water Summit?

   The One Water Summit will feature leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

3. What is the focus of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum?

   The SGI Forum will highlight progress under SGI’s energy and environmental tracks while exploring best practices and future projections.

4. What is the goal of the Second International Forum on Greening Technologies?

   The forum aims to showcase global restoration projects, innovative solutions, and scientific research to address critical issues of land degradation, drought, and desertification.

5. Why is the COP16 in Riyadh significant?

   The COP16 in Riyadh is the first UNCCD conference in the Middle East, featuring a Green Zone and hosting the largest multilateral event ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.

6. How many people globally are impacted by land degradation?

   Nearly 40% of the planet is affected by land degradation, impacting 3.2 billion people globally.

7. What is the annual rate of degraded land?

   Alarmingly, 100 million hectares of land are degraded annually, highlighting the urgent need for action.

8. How has drought intensity changed since 2000?

   Drought intensity has increased by nearly a third since 2000, underscoring the growing challenges of water scarcity.

9. Who is Nigel Topping and what role does he play in COP16?

   Nigel Topping is the Founder of Ambition Loop and former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP26, emphasizing the importance of collective action in driving progress.

10. What is the long-term vision of Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency?

    The Kingdom aims to harness the collective energies of various stakeholders to deliver sustainable, measurable progress in addressing land degradation and desertification over the next two years.

Tags

UNCCD, COP16, Riyadh, Land Restoration, Drought Resilience, Global Summit, Saudi Arabia, Environmental Sustainability