NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has called upon the global policymakers to prioritize tackling land degradation, drought, and desertification during the 16th UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), set to be held in Riyadh this December, Saudi Gazette reported on Friday.
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaking at the “Road to Riyadh” event during the UN General Assembly, stressed the need for decisive international action and outlined the roadmap for the upcoming COP.
Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, who will serve as the COP16 President, termed the moment as “pivotal for our planet,” stressing the significance of land restoration to ensure a prosperous future.
AlFadley urged the global community to unite in curbing land degradation and promoting sustainable resource use. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leadership in environmental preservation, citing major initiatives such as the G20 Global Land Initiative and he Saudi Green Initiative.
According to the UNCCD data at the current rate, 1.5 billion hectares of land will need restoration by 2030 to meet the Land Degradation Neutrality targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.
The upcoming COP16 meeting in Riyadh will focus on advancing solid commitments to accelerate international restoration efforts.
UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said that land degradation and drought affect nearly half of the population of the world, and COP16 will be a critical opportunity to enhance global drought resilience and large-scale land restoration.
With up to 40 percent of the world’s land already degraded, and the frequency and intensity of droughts increasing by 29 percent since 2000, Saudi Arabia is calling for enhanced multilateral action to fight these environmental crises and protect vulnerable populations.
