Global dignitaries, policymakers, scientists
and NGOs descend on Riyadh ahead
of 'critical' UN meeting to restore land
RIYADH,
Saudi Arabia, Dec. 2, 2024
/CNW/ -- The largest-ever meeting of the United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is set to kick-off in Riyadh, with an action-packed agenda to drive
multilateral action on land degradation, drought and
desertification. Dignitaries, policymakers, global institutions,
businesses, NGOs and key stakeholders are arriving in Saudi Arabia's capital ahead of a critical
conference to accelerate global land restoration and drought
resilience initiatives.
Running from the 2nd to the 13th of December, the first few days
of UNCCD COP16 are set to see a
number of high-profile summits, ministerial dialogues, and
announcements to address the pressing challenges associated with
land degradation, degradation and drought. On December 2nd, Saudi Arabia's UNCCD Presidency will
launch the groundbreaking Riyadh Global Drought Resilience
Initiative, to accelerate international action on drought
resilience, and ensure a more cohesive and proactive global
approach to tackling drought.
Bolstering global drought resilience is a focal point of
COP16, and the high-level One Water
Summit will take place in Riyadh
on December 3rd to address
global water scarcity and water challenges. Originally announced on
the sidelines of COP28 in partnership
with Saudi Arabia, the summit aims
to enhance global water governance and will feature involvement
from the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, the
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and
the President of the World Bank Ajay
Banga.
In tandem, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum (2–3 December)
will include hundreds of policymakers, business leaders and subject
matter experts from across the world in the dedicated SGI
Pavilion in the COP16 Green Zone to
explore the progress made by the SGI energy and environmental
tracks, sharing best practices and future projections. The Second
International Forum on Greening Technologies is also set to take
place in the Green Zone between the 6–8 December, including dozens
of tailored sessions to explore solutions, innovations, and lessons
learned from global greening projects, alongside showcasing the
scientific research associated with restoration projects around the
world.
"This is a critical moment to address land degradation, drought
and desertification," said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for
Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and
Advisor to the UNCCD COP16
Presidency. "For too long these devastating global crises have
not received the attention they deserve on the international stage.
As hosts, we welcome the world to Riyadh to help find lasting solutions. We will
deliver the largest UNCCD COP to date, to mobilize multilateral
action on land restoration and drought resilience," Dr. Faqeeha
added.
Saudi Arabia's COP16 Presidency is also set to strengthen the
Action Agenda, by encouraging governments and non-state actors to
champion initiatives that deliver lasting solutions for land
degradation, desertification and drought. As part of the
COP16 Presidency, Saudi Arabia intends to work with the
champions of these initiatives to strengthen the synergies among
them over the next two years.
"The Action Agenda under COP16
sets out an ambitious vision and goals to harness the collective
energies of non-state actors, including businesses, farmers,
regions, cities, financial institutions, investors, civil society
and indigenous people, to catalyse practical solutions and drive
measurable progress towards the goals of the UNCCD," said
Nigel Topping, Ambition Loop Founder
and former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at
COP26.
COP16 in Riyadh is the first UNCCD conference to be
held in the Middle East region,
the first to feature a Green Zone and the largest multilateral
conference ever hosted by Saudi
Arabia. According to the UNCCD, land degradation
affects nearly 40% of the planet and impacts the lives of over 3.2
billion people. Every year 100 million hectares of land are
degraded, with drought frequency and intensity increasing by nearly a third since
2000.
About COP16 Riyadh
The UNCCD COP16 conference is
taking place from December 2–13, 2024, at Boulevard Riyadh World,
Saudi Arabia. The conference,
themed Our Land. Our Future, will mark the 30th anniversary of the
UNCCD and aims to secure multilateral action on critical issues
such as drought resilience, land tenure, and sand and dust
storms.
For more information about UNCCD COP16 or to register your interest in attending
the Green Zone, please visit UNCCDCOP16.org
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SOURCE UNCCD COP16
