The UNCCD COP16 Presidency, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, spotlighted a surge in private sector engagement in the global land restoration movement. During a high-level event at COP30 titled Land Restoration for Climate – Private Sector Progress and Solutions, the Presidency shared new milestones under the Riyadh Action Agenda (RAA), its flagship legacy platform to mobilise state and non-state actor action on land.
Since the launch of the RAA at COP16 in Riyadh, the platform has grown from 40 to 100 public and private initiatives focused on restoring degraded land and strengthening drought resilience. More than 300 companies across key sectors—including agriculture, finance, insurance, and technology—are represented across these initiatives, accounting for 18% of all supporting actions and demonstrating clear progress in mobilising private sector leadership for land restoration.
According to UN data, one-third of the world’s agricultural land is now degraded due to human activity, affecting the lives and livelihoods of 1.5 billion people and costing the global economy over US$300 billion in lost agricultural productivity every year. Recognizing the urgency, the UNCCD COP16 Presidency has set a bold target: to mobilize 1,000 companies to adopt regenerative business practices and contribute to global restoration goals by 2030.
Deputy Minister of Environment of Saudi Arabia and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, said: “It takes a thousand years to create one centimeter of soil and only two years to destroy it. The RAA recognizes the need to bring land, the ocean, and the atmosphere together, and action must be taken on the ground that integrates national plans, finance, and political support.
“The world is moving. We are proud that nearly one in five initiatives under the Riyadh Action Agenda comes from the private sector. This shows that more than 300 companies are already taking meaningful action for land. Our goal is to inspire thousands more across the real economy to help restore 1.5 billion hectares globally. With economic analyses showing that every dollar invested in land restoration can return between seven and thirty dollars in benefits, the case for action is clear. This is the legacy of UNCCD COP16 and the promise of land for future generations.”