UN Conference Highlights Global Efforts to Combat Desertification and Build Resilience
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (BG) – The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has brought global attention to large-scale land restoration and drought initiatives, including the Great Green Wall in Africa, the G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative, and the International Drought Resilience Alliance.
In his opening address, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said these initiatives build on the foundations laid by UNCCD Parties over the years.
“Major large-scale land restoration and drought initiatives, such as the Great Green Wall in Africa, the G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative, and the International Drought Resilience Alliance have built their approaches on the foundations laid by UNCCD Parties,” Thiaw said.
Land Restoration as a Human Imperative
“Land restoration is not merely about ecology; it is about nurturing humanity itself,” Thiaw added, emphasizing the transformative power of collective action.
He pointed to the Abidjan Legacy Programme in Ivory Coast and India’s commitment to restoring 26 million hectares of land under Prime Minister Narendra Modi as successful initiatives.
The conference, held in Riyadh from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13, 2024, is a key platform to address global land degradation, drought, and desertification challenges.
Thiaw warned that land degradation is accelerating, with healthy land equivalent to the size of India and Nigeria combined lost over just four years.
He also highlighted the increasing impact of drought, calling it a “silent killer” that disrupts food and water security, energy production, and global supply chains.
Saudi Arabia’s Leadership and Global Action
Thiaw commended Saudi Arabia’s leadership through initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, which he said represent bold commitments to sustainable land and environmental management.
He also issued a call for urgent global action. “The way we manage our land today will directly determine the future of life on Earth,” Thiaw said.
As negotiations at COP16 proceed, expectations are high for adopting bold decisions addressing drought resilience and land restoration, setting a benchmark for global cooperation in combating desertification.
