UNCCD COP 16 is more than a critical milestone; it represents a moonshot moment to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience through a people-centered approach. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global voice for land and one of the three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions alongside climate and biodiversity.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the main decision-making body of UNCCD’s 197 Parties – 196 countries and the European Union. COP16 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2-13 December 2024 under the theme “Our Land. Our Future.”
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, COP16 will be the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa region, which knows first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought. COP16 is poised to be a game-changer, marking a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.
At COP16, countries are expected to decide on collective actions to:
- Accelerate restoration of degraded land by 2030 and beyond;
- Boost resilience to intensifying droughts and sand and dust storms;
- Restore soil health and scale up nature-positive food production;
- Secure land rights and promote equity for sustainable land stewardship;
- Ensure that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions;
- Unlock economic opportunities, including decent land-based jobs for youth.
For the first time, COP16 will introduce a dual approach with a Negotiation Track and an Action Agenda, both interlinked to achieve bold outcomes in formal negotiations and facilitate the implementation of COP decisions.
What is the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) serves as the global voice for land. The Convention unites governments, scientists, policymakers, the private sector, and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. More than just an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD represents a multilateral commitment to mitigating land degradation and advancing land stewardship to ensure food, water, shelter, and economic opportunity for all in an equitable and inclusive manner. leonlidigu.org will be covering COP16 LIVE from Riyadh ,Saudi Arabia.
