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ICBA Highlights Key Issues in the Fight Against Desertification at COP16

by rachel
written by rachel

In a bit to seal its role as a global leader in addressing desertification, land degradation and food insecurity, the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) participated in COP16. Members of the organisation hosted and attended sessions, promoting topics such as stress-tolerant crops, climate resilient solutions, women and youth empowerment, and scientific innovation.

“At COP16, ICBA demonstrated the power of inclusive collaboration and science-driven solutions to combat land degradation,” said Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA. “Our focus on empowering women, advancing biosaline agriculture, and building capacity underscores our commitment to creating sustainable and resilient communities. Our contributions to soil health, stress-tolerant crops, and regenerative agriculture reflect ICBA’s role in delivering scalable solutions tailored to arid and saline environments.”

Strategic Dialogues and Innovations

During the Food and Agricultural Systems Day, Dr. Alzaabi participated in the “NENA High-Level Breakfast Dialogue on Investment for Planet and People,” organised by the UNCCD Secretariat and key regional stakeholders. Dr. Tarifa emphasised the need for climate-resilient solutions, capacity development, and nature-based approaches to drive sustainable development and ecosystem restoration in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

In a session organized by ICRISAT and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), titled “Unlocking Opportunities of Dryland Cereal Food Systems,” Dr. Alzaabi outlined ICBA’s advancements in stress-tolerant crops such as millet and sorghum, efficient water use, and biosaline agriculture. She also highlighted ICBA’s flagship programs, including AWLA and ICBA-YES, which empower women and youth to lead innovation and build resilience in dryland agriculture.

At the UAE Pavilion, Dr. Alzaabi, alongside Ms. Nour El Jundi, Project Development Specialist at ICBA, led a Fireside Chat titled “Biosaline Accelerators for Land Restoration”. Aiming to explore innovative biosaline agriculture practices and their transformative potential in sustainable land restoration and combating land degradation, key discussions revolved around ICBA’s solutions, including the use of salt-tolerant crops and innovative technologies to restore degraded lands and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability in arid regions.

Empowering Communities Through Science and Collaboration

Dr. Charbel Tarraf, Chief Operations and Development at ICBA, contributed to the session ‘Innovative Multi-faceted Approaches to Land Restoration’, organised by the UNCCD and ICBA. He highlighted biosaline agriculture as a transformative tool for rehabilitating degraded lands, and underscored the critical role of women in advancing sustainable land management. The discussion showcased ICBA’s integrative methodologies, combining scientific innovation, technological advancements, and community-based practices.

During the Agri-Food Systems Day, Ms. Nour El Jundi represented ICBA in the session “Regenerative Agriculture as a Solution to Desertification,” organised by SOMA MATER. She showcased ICBA’s expertise in regenerative agricultural practices, detailing approaches that restore degraded lands, enhance soil health, and promote sustainable food systems in arid regions.

ICBA hosted the session “Soil Health to Combat Land Desertification” at the UAE Pavilion, featuring contributions from Dr. Tarraf, Mrs. Ryma Affani, Curator of the Emirates Soil Museum, and Dr. Ahmed El-Naggar, Soil Management Scientist. The session highlighted biosaline techniques for soil restoration and presented the Emirates Soil Museum as a hub for capacity development and knowledge sharing. Advanced research on soil amendments and microbial solutions demonstrated innovative methods for enhancing land resilience.

Stress-tolerant Seeds Showcase

ICBA was featured as part of the UAE Pavilion at COP16, highlighting its role as a centre of excellence for smart resilience and water management technologies. The pavilion showcased ICBA’s innovative approaches to tackling climate challenges, including its portfolio of stress-tolerant seeds, which include UAE-native varieties designed for saline and arid environments.

These seeds enhance biodiversity, combat soil erosion, and improve agricultural resilience. Additionally, ICBA presented land rehabilitation techniques, such as the use of Prosopis juliflora, demonstrating practical solutions for addressing desertification and promoting sustainable agriculture.

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UAE Concludes COP16 Participation, Reinforcing the Role of International Cooperation in Combating Desertification

by rachel
written by rachel

The United Arab Emirates concluded its participation in the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) by emphasising the importance of strengthening international cooperation to develop practical solutions for halting desertification and addressing drought. The UAE also underlined the importance of the active involvement of all community groups, with a focus on enhancing the role of women in global sustainable land management.

COP16 was held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13 under the theme “Our Land. Our Future”. The conference aimed to explore strategies for transforming land degradation into renewal.  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) serves as the global advocate for bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society to address challenges and collaboratively shape a sustainable future for land.

“COP16 on combating desertification marked a new chapter in the UAE’s achievements to address the global drought crisis and halting land degradation”, said Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who led the UAE delegation at the conference.

“Through effective contributions to global efforts, the UAE has strengthened sustainable agriculture and food systems, and leveraged innovation to develop solutions to the global water crisis, particularly through the ‘Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative’ and other efforts.”

“The participation of the Emirati work teams, representing relevant authorities in the country, exemplified our collaboration and unity in pursuing shared goals. Our goals include addressing national challenges, expanding innovation-driven agriculture and food systems, promoting sustainable water management, and maximising the benefits derived from natural resources while preventing waste. Additionally, our teams played an active role in rallying global efforts in this regard.”

Interactive Engagements

During his participation in a session titled ‘Strengthening the Environmental Dimension of Food Systems Amid a Polycrisis in the Arab Region’, His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, emphasised that water scarcity is a significant challenge for the Arab region. As one of the most arid places in the world, the Arab region faces immense pressure on its limited freshwater resources especially for agriculture.

“We must invest in climate-smart land solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance climate resilience across the Arab region”, said HE Al Nuaimi. “The success of these efforts hinges on cooperation, as the active participation and coordination among the various stakeholders is urgently needed to achieve the shared goals of our Arab nations.”

His Excellency said that tackling the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification calls for concerted regional efforts. These include leveraging advanced technologies, strengthening resource management, and enhancing international cooperation.

His Excellency also highlighted the ‘Plant the Emirates’ National Programme, which aims to empower local communities in achieving sustainable food security in the UAE by encouraging their participation in agricultural practices. HE also referred to the ‘National Agriculture Centre’, which aims to advance research and innovation in agricultural technologies.

Hiba Obaid Al Shehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector at MOCCAE, participated in a session titled ‘High Level Interactive Dialogue of the Gender Caucus: HerLand: Women’s leadership on sustainable land management’. She emphasised the UAE’s commitment to gender equality as part of the nation’s efforts to address the impact of climate change, particularly in sustainable land management.

““The climate crisis does not affect one gender more than the other; both women and men are significantly impacted by climate change”, said Hiba Obaid Al Shehhi. “This presents a unique opportunity to strengthen efforts to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought, while enhancing the leadership role of women and girls by leveraging their expertise, knowledge, and skills.”

“The presence of women in this field globally remains modest, which necessitates the formulation of more effective and inclusive policies and projects. Women constitute nearly 50 per cent of the agricultural workforce worldwide; however, they own less than one-fifth of the total land globally.”

Al Shehhi highlighted the significant role of the UAE in empowering women in agriculture through efforts that included a project to enhance the capabilities of refugees in Uganda, funded by the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“The call to enhance the role of women in achieving climate resilience and land restoration aligns with our national strategies. Women play a pivotal role in shaping policies and driving innovative solutions to combat land degradation and desertification”, she added.

Hiba Al Shehhi also participated in a session titled ‘Multilateral Environmental Agreements Synergies for Strengthened Environmental Governance: Insights from the Bern III Conference’, where she emphasised that climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation represent a link between interconnected environmental crises, reinforcing how addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive response.

Al Shehhi described the launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) by the UAE in collaboration with the Republic of Indonesia, which aims to globally expand the planting of mangrove trees, which act as natural carbon sinks, and serve as a vital link in preserving the marine environment and biodiversity. The alliance currently includes 45 countries.  She also shed light on the groundbreaking ceremony of the Mohamed bin Zayed – Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre in Indonesia, which will lead research and innovation efforts to expand mangrove forests globally.

Furthermore, Al Shehhi emphasised the importance of enhancing international cooperation by aligning actions with global frameworks such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure coherent strategies – “Policy tools at national level can help enhance cooperation among diverse sectors”, she said.



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Saudi Arabia Launches Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring Initiative

by rachel
written by rachel

In a bid to boost global early waning systems, Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD COP16 Presidency has announced the launch of an international initiative for sand and storm monitoring – this will expand on existing international sand and dust storm capacity, overseen by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

Part of the Riyadh Action Agenda at COP16 in Riyadh, the announcement took place during Resilience Day on Tuesday, a thematic day at COP16 designed to amplify action on global resilience initiatives. Discussions and events throughout the day sought to deliver renewed funding and solutions to combat land degradation, drought, and desertification.

Two billion tonnes of sand and dust enter the atmosphere every year according to the UNCCD, equivalent in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza. Over 25 per cent is estimated to be due to human activity. 

Based in Jeddah, the Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS), increases the number of global WMO-affiliated nodes to four, part of an international network including Beijing, Barcelona, and Barbados. 

“The centre managed to develop three models with different resolutions that have been validated to predict sand and dust storms in the region, and they are all now in operation”, said Jumaan Al-Qahtani, CEO, GCC Regional Sand and Dust Storms Warning Advisory and Assessment Node, Jeddah.

“Saudi Arabia just launched an international partnership initiative where we want to enhance early warning systems in those countries that are not able to do it. This will be done through the WMO accredited regional centres that now exist, and Saudi Arabia will fund this initiative with $10 million for the next five years. We call upon other UN organisations and countries to support this initiative.” 

Scaling global drought resilience also featured heavily in official dialogue throughout the ninth day of COP16 in Riyadh. It comes after Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, part of the Riyadh Action Agenda, at the beginning of COP16 in Riyadh. It has already secured $2.15 billion in financial backing. 

“Over 1.8 billion people are impacted by drought, with this number forecast to accelerate”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency. “Drought resilience must be a global priority, one that sees us shift from a reactive response after droughts hit, to a proactive stance of comprehensive drought readiness and resilience.”

“We are very proud to launch the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership during COP16 in Riyadh, and we are very proud of the of the stakeholders that already supported the partnership. We are calling upon all countries, organisations, private sector, and NGOs, to join us in these efforts to enhance drought resilience. With this initiative we are targeting the 80 most vulnerable countries to drought.”

The World Bank announced they had raised $24 billion in donor contributions, as part of their International Development Association. In a statement, the World Bank said this will help generate a total of $100 billion in affordable financing. Amongst other areas, the funding will be used to support climate resilience, farmers, and boost infrastructure, in 78 countries determined to be most in need. COP16 in Riyadh is mobilising global state and non-state actors, seeking to enhance international land restoration and drought resilience initiatives.  

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Indigenous Groups, Youth and at-Risk Communities Rally at COP16 in Fight Against Land Degradation

by rachel
written by rachel

In a bid to advance the voice and role of a range of key stakeholders in the fight against land degradation, drought and desertification, events such as the first ever dialogue for Indigenous Groups at UNCCD COP16 took place during ‘People’s Day’. It comes as the Riyadh Action Agenda intensifies engagement with non-state and state actors to mobilise action on new and existing land restoration and drought resilience initiatives.

“Five per cent of the global population are indigenous peoples, they are custodians of 20 per cent of land, which houses 80 per cent of biodiversity. So, they are the gatekeepers of biodiversity”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, beginning the Indigenous Peoples dialogue.

The session concluded with a landmark declaration from representatives from Indigenous Peoples around the world. Amongst other objectives, it called for the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, including women and youth, in land-related processes at the local, national, regional and international levels.  It also urged the international community to recognise Indigenous Peoples as a rightsholders distinct from civil society organisations, and ensure direct access to finances for Indigenous Peoples. 

“For the first time ever we have gathered indigenous peoples, indigenous leaders, from the seven social cultural regions to carry a very simple message with them here”, said Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad. “Land is the element where everything fits together, in all our regions land is the root of all life.”

People’s Day, one of seven thematic days running throughout COP16 in Riyadh to hone discussions and outcomes, also included a youth forum called ‘Action for Land, Restoring Work for Resilient and Sustainable Futures, under the patronage of the Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.

The event saw the launch of the UNCCD Youth Strategy and Action Plan 2024, a roadmap for harnessing young people in the fight against land degradation. It highlights the importance of younger generations in accelerating land restoration and drought resilience. According to the UNCCD, more than one billion young people in developing countries depend on land and natural resources.

“Inclusivity must be at the core of land restoration and drought resilience”, said Dr. Faqeeha. “As an international community, it is essential we harness the knowledge, experience and expertise of those impacted by land degradation, desertification and drought.”

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Riyadh Action Agenda Launched by Saudi Arabia to Accelerate Land Restoration and Drought Resilience

by rachel
written by rachel

In a bid to mobilise state and non-state actors to deliver lasting solutions for land degradation, desertification and drought, Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD COP16 Presidency has announced the launch of the Riyadh Action Agenda.

Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, officially launched the Riyadh Action Agenda during his speech for the high-level interactive dialogue on sustainable, resilient and inclusive agri-food systems. The Agenda will capitalise on the momentum created by COP16 in Riyadh, engaging with a range of key environmental stakeholders for the two-year duration of Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency, to foster tangible action for everyone.

“If we are to accelerate land restoration and drought resilience initiatives at the pace and scale required, then it is critical we continue to mobilise and incentivise action long after COP16 ends”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, “reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s leadership in land restoration, and leaving a lasting legacy of global change.”

The launch of the Riyadh Action Agenda took place during the fourth day of COP16 in Riyadh, on Agri-food System Day, one of seven scheduled thematic days designed to focus discussions and ongoing negotiations. Agriculture is the primary driver of land degradation, with current agri-food systems contributing to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. According to the UNCCD, agriculture accounts for 23 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, 80 per cent of deforestation, and 70 per cent of freshwater use.

A range of events took place throughout the day to harness multilateral solutions to unsustainable agricultural practices. Discussions spanned an array of key meetings, with topics including ways to enhance healthy soils, resilient crops and nutritious food. Agri-food Systems Day also addressed the importance of private sector and farming participation in transforming food systems. The proceedings took place on World Soil Day, an annual global event advocating for sustainable soil management around the world. 

“Around 95 per cent of our food comes from the soil, and yet we continue to treat it like dirt”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha. “Unsustainable land management, farming practices and industrial-scale profiteering, are creating a simply unsustainable pace of land degradation, with every year 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil being lost. This is a leading cause of global food and water insecurity, impacting everyone from farmers toiling increasingly baren fields, to consumers paying more for essential goods.”

The UNCCD estimates that by 2050, crop yields could decline by 10 per cent globally and 50 per cent in the worst-hit regions. This scenario could cause an estimated 30 per cent increase in food prices.  Meanwhile, growing populations are forecast to increase demand on land and agriculture. 

“We do not need to reinvent the wheel to deliver urgent solutions to the crises gripping our land and soils. Reinvesting harmful agricultural subsidies could almost immediately provide financial relief for land restoration and reform unsustainable practices”, added Dr. Faqeeha. 

  

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$12 billion+ Pledged for Land Restoration amid COP16 Land Financing Talks

by rachel
written by rachel

In a significant move to boost funding for land restoration, over $12 billion has now been pledged to interrelated causes since COP16 in Riyadh began.

The Arab Coordination Group became the latest institution to pledge major financial backing, with a further $10 billion to combat land degradation, desertification and drought. The additional funding comes from the back of the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, taking place on the first day of the Conference.

The OPEC Fund and Islamic Development Bank committed $1 billion each to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, alongside the $150 million provided by Saudi Arabia to operationalise the Initiative. The additional backing took place during the Ministerial Dialogue on Finance, part of the high-level segment at COP16, aimed at unlocking international funding from the private and public sectors.

“With over $12 billion pledged for major land restoration and drought resilience initiatives in just the first two days, COP16 in Riyadh is already proving a landmark moment in the fight against drought”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency.

“I hope this is just the beginning, and over the coming days and weeks, we see further contributions from international private and public sector partners, that further amplify the impact of vital drought resilience and land restoration initiatives.”

“As shown by the UNCCD’s latest report, there is a dire need for additional international funding. Redirecting more foreign aid, such as Official Development Assistance funds, to combat land degradation, drought and desertification would be one financial mechanism the international community could relatively quickly unlock to provide much needed support in the worst hit countries”, added Dr. Faqeeha.

On the second day of COP16 in Riyadh the UNCCD released its financial needs assessment report, detailing the latest funding requirements to address land degradation, drought and desertification. The findings revealed a sizeable funding gap for international land restoration efforts.

Based on UNCCD targets, the required annual investments for 2025–2030 are estimated at $355 billion. However, projected investments for the same period amount to only $77 billion per year, leaving $278 billion that needs to be mobilised to meet the objectives of the UNCCD. 

The report also detailed the lack of investment in land restoration and drought resilience from the private sector, which is estimated to contribute just 6% of global funding. That’s despite UNCCD forecasting that restoring over one billion hectares of land could generate up to $1.8 trillion annually. 

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COP16 Presidency Calls on Private Sector to ‘Ramp Up’ Funding in Land Restoration Finance ‘Blackhole’

by rachel
written by rachel

In an effort to accelerate land restoration financing, Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD COP16 Presidency called for the private sector to ‘ramp up’ funding, after a UNCCD report highlighted only 6 per cent of financial commitments for land resilience and drought restoration came from private sources.

UNCCD have also highlighted the cost of inaction, with the potential for the global economy to lose $23 trillion by 2050 due to land degradation, desertification and drought.

On the 4th December, Saudi Arabia’s Presidency launched Land Day, the first of seven thematic days designed to focus on key areas within land degradation, desertification and drought. One of the central matters driving debate during the day concerned the urgent need to unlock private sector investment to mobilise international resources for land restoration.

Key events took place on Land Day to amplify awareness and action – the Business for Land forum brought together decision-makers from business, government and civil society to explore the intersection of business, finance and policy, and promote private sector engagement in addressing land degradation.

“Through our Presidency of COP16 we will work to make this COP a launchpad to strengthen public and private partnerships and create a roadmap to rehabilitate 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030″, said Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, UNCCD COP16 President and Saudi Arabia Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Following a series of events this year at the UN General Assembly, the CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia and COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the ‘Rio Convention Synergies’ dialogue also took place on Land Day, highlighting developments made during the 2024 Rio Trio events. The event discussed the interconnected issues driving land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change, and how to find common solutions. 

“If the international community is to deliver land restoration at the scale required, then the private sector simply must ramp up investment”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency. “As the latest UNCCD findings show, there remains a worrying blackhole in the funds needed to combat land degradation, desertification and drought”.

“For decades businesses have profited from land, now is the time to embrace restoration and invest in futureproofing the foundations of businesses, industries and whole economies. At COP16 in Riyadh we are working to mobilise both the public and private sector, to further incentivise investment, and ultimately, help unlock a potential trillion-dollar restoration economy.”

The day also outlined the unique issues facing different types of land around the world, and the potential solutions to arrest their degradation. From forests to rangelands, which are natural grasslands used by livestock and wild animals to graze and forage. Rangelands also include savannas, shrublands, wetlands, tundra and deserts, and account for approximately 54 per cent of all land cover according to the UNCCD.

During Land Day discussions on ‘Protecting and Restoring Rangelands’ took place to mobilise investments in the preservation, protection, and restoration of global rangelands. Sessions offered participants insights into science-backed solutions for combating land degradation and drought, and the crucial role of finance in the circular economy. 

“Rangelands are a vital ecosystem for people around the world, nurturing lives and livelihoods”, added Dr. Faqeeha. “However, they are facing acute degradation with over 50 per cent of rangelands already degraded. This is having a drastic impact, putting at risk 1/6th of humanity’s food supply and 1/3rd of the planets carbon reservoir. The continued depletion of these vital lands is driving food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity loss and forced migration.”

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Dr. Amna Al Dahak Outlines the UAE’s Vision for Tackling Climate Crises | COP16

by rachel
written by rachel

In a bid to promote the UAE’s Vision for tackling drought and land degradation, and advancing global food and water security, HE Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, is leading the UAE delegation at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16).

COP16 has commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will run until the 13th December, under the theme ‘Our Land. Our Future’. The Conference aims to explore strategies for transforming land degradation into renewal.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) serves as a global platform for bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society to address challenges and collaboratively shape a sustainable future for land.

Dr. Amna Al Dahak took part in the ‘Ministerial Dialogue on Drought Resilience; From Geneva to Riyadh and Beyond: Enhancing Global and National Policy Instruments for a Proactive Drought Management Approach’. In her address, HE emphasised that considering the climate challenges confronting the world, drought remains a critical issue and a significant global concern.

“Effective drought management calls for a combination of proactive planning, innovative strategies, and collaborative efforts in water management and distribution”, Dr. Al Dahak said. “Adopting sustainable practices, such as rainwater harvesting and climate-smart agriculture, is essential for improving water use efficiency and strengthening resilience to drought.” 

HE highlighted the UAE’s ‘National Strategy to Combat Desertification’ and it’s Water Security Strategy 2036, as well as the UAE’s contributions to enhancing global water security through initiatives such as the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. HE also emphasised the significance of the UAE’s role as the host of the upcoming UN Water Conference in 2026, in partnership with the Republic of Senegal, which will serve as a pivotal platform to advance global efforts towards ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water for everyone. 

During a session titled ‘Ministerial Dialogue on Finance: Unlocking Public and Private Finance for Land Restoration and Drought Resilience,’ HE Dr. Al Dahak emphasised the critical role of investing in sustainable land management and restoration as a fundamental driver for advancing sustainable agricultural practices. 

“Land restoration efforts – especially for agriculture and food systems – are of profound importance and must be addressed to achieve our climate goals”, HE said. “It is imperative for governments and the private sector to scale investments in transforming agrifood systems by fostering more policies, initiatives and facilities that can support countries in land restoration and to deliver significant food and environmental benefits.” 

HE reviewed the UAE’s efforts in implementing projects aimed at enhancing land ecosystems such as ‘Sustainable Grazing Projects’, ‘Land Degradation Neutralisation Programme’, ‘Development of Gene Banks for Local Plants Contributing to Combating Desertification’, ‘Prediction and Early Warning Programmes for Sand and Dust Storms’, as well as two programmes focused on ‘Green Belts’ and ‘Urban Forest Management’. Additionally, the UAE is working on other projects supported by integrated financing mechanisms. 

Her Excellency affirmed that through collaboration, the world aims to develop large-scale sustainable solutions for land protection and restoration by aligning financial incentives with environmental goals. 

UAE Statement at COP16 

His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, delivered the UAE’s statement at the UNCCD COP16. 

HE emphasised that land degradation and desertification pose a significant threat to global sustainable development and resilience to climate change, stressing the need for unified and collaborative efforts to address land degradation to develop sustainable agricultural practices and restore biodiversity. 

“The UAE is acutely aware of the devastating impacts of declining soil fertility, water scarcity, and increased vulnerability to drought on our land, livelihoods, and future”, HE Al Nuaimi said. “This was reflected in the launch of the ‘COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action’, which has already been endorsed by 160 countries.” 

His Excellency also discussed the recently launched Plant the Emirates National Programme, which aims to stimulate agricultural development and strengthen sustainable national food security in the country.  

HE also highlighted the National Agricultural Centre which seeks to empower local farmers through training and financing programmes that promote sustainable and climate-smart agricultural projects. These initiatives aim to maximise land rehabilitation benefits while ensuring more efficient management of natural resources and water. 

His Excellency noted that effective action against land degradation and desertification requires addressing key enablers such as securing land rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment. “The decisions we make at this Conference will have a profound impact on the future of our land, our planet and the legacy we leave to future generations”, HE concluded.

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COP16: Launch of Drought Partnership and AI-Powered Observatory

by rachel
written by rachel

Leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society and global stakeholders are meeting to accelerate progress on sustainable land management at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16, which is being hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

COP16 is a critical moment for governments and non-state actors to slow and reverse land degradation, with hopes to halt the loss of fertile land globally, following the UNCCD COP 15 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in 2022. During COP15, 38 decisions highlighting the role of land sustainability in addressing multiple challenges were adopted through a unified global pledge to strengthen drought resilience and increase investment in land restoration and conservation for prosperity for all.

Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the only legally binding treaty – signed by 197 countries plus the European Union – linking environmental conservation and sustainable land management for development, promoting good governance to avoid, minimise and reverse land degradation, thus ensuring the continued availability of land-based natural resources that are essential for human survival.

Saudi Arabia Elected to Presidency of COP16

This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially elected as the President of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), during the opening ceremony in Riyadh.

With this announcement, Saudi Arabia begins its two-year term to advance international action on land rehabilitation, restoration, fertility and resilience to desertification and drought.

During the official opening of the conference, COP16 President Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli urged the international community to take significant action to achieve the UNCCD’s goal of rehabilitating 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030.

“We are at a critical juncture for the earth we live on and for all our people”, said Minister Al-Fadhli. “Restoring land fertility and strengthening our resilience to drought are essential to prevent many of the crises currently plaguing societies around the world.”

Global Partnership for Drought Resilience

The Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience is set to accelerate a shift in how drought challenges are addressed around the world. Drawing on the collective influence of major global institutions, drought response mechanisms will be radically transformed, and instead of an emergency response after a crisis has occurred, it will be addressed in a proactive approach, by strengthening early warning systems, financing, vulnerability assessments, and drought risk mitigation.

“The initiative will facilitate collaborative and coordinated joint action around the world and will serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ to strengthen capacities and preparations to address drought challenges”, said Dr Osama Fakiha, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs, and Advisor to the COP Presidency.

“It will also play a very important role in supporting efforts to shift from emergency response, which is limited to providing aid and relief after a drought crisis, to pre-preparedness. At the same time, we endeavour to mobilise global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world.”

The Partnership will also prioritise the launch of new drought financing mechanisms, as well as increased access to credit, equity financing, insurance products and grants, and Saudi Arabia will cover the expenses of the office for at least 10 years.

“While no country is immune to drought, 85 per cent of people affected by drought live in low-and-middle-income countries”, said Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. “In today’s interconnected world, we have a collective responsibility and common interest that requires the participation of everyone, everywhere, to address the catastrophic effects of drought, which spares no country.”

Droughts affect almost every corner of the globe affecting 1.84 billion people in 2022. More than 55 countries have been declared drought emergencies between 2020 and 2023, according to the UNCCD. In Africa, 28 per cent of the continent’s land area was affected by drought between 2016 and 2019, according to official reports. Latin America and the Caribbean saw similar devastation, with 37.9 per cent of land area affected during the same time period. Drought is the leading cause of food and water insecurity, and has displaced millions, with affected countries incurring huge economic losses.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Observatory Launched to Combat Drought

The International Drought Observatory is the first global AI-powered platform dedicated to the proactive management of droughts. Projections from world-renounced research centres indicate that 75 per cent of the world’s population will be affected by severe droughts by 2050, unless swift and effective action is taken.

During the opening ceremony of the Observatory, the conference presidency called on the representatives of countries to provide data and expertise to enrich the work mechanisms of this project based on the latest AI technologies, in order to enhance the capabilities of countries and governments to confront drought.

The Observatory can be utilised to help stakeholders establish a foundation of press practices to protect communities, economies, and ecosystems, and work to continuously enhance them to reach the required sustainability.

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Saudi Arabia Assumes UNCCD Presidency at COP16 Opening Ceremony

by rachel
written by rachel

Saudi Arabia has officially been elected as President of the sixteenth Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16). The recognition of the Presidency took place during the opening plenary session of COP16 in Riyadh, beginning a two-year tenure to drive international action on land restoration and drought resilience.

Policymakers, international organisations, businesses, NGOs and key stakeholders are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to seek urgent international solutions to the pressing global crises of land degradation, drought and desertification.

During the official opening of the conference, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, UNCCD COP16 President and Saudi Arabia Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, welcomed attendees. In his opening remarks, he urged the international community to deliver decisive action as the UNCCD targets the restoration of 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030.

“Saudi Arabia looks forward to intensifying international efforts at UNCCD COP16 to address major environmental challenges”, said Minister AlFadley, “and enhance integration with other international environmental agreements, including the Rio Conventions on climate change and biodiversity, all to achieve ambitious outcomes that make a qualitative leap in land conservation, reduce land degradation and build a global capacity to combat drought.”

“More than 100 million hectares of land is degraded every year, impacting over 3 billion people and leading to more than $6 trillion of lost ecosystem services, whilst driving food and water insecurity. This COP will be a historic moment to limit land deflation and drought around the world.”

The UNCCD issued a new report in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research, highlighting the growing emergency caused by land degradation. Key findings outlined the damage being caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, with agriculture accounting for 80 per cent of deforestation and 70 per cent of fresh water use, whilst 23 per cent of greenhouse has emissions stem from agriculture, forestry and land use. According to the report, 46 per cent of the global land area is classified as drylands.

Running from the 2nd to the 13th December, COP16 in Riyadh is the largest-ever UNCCD COP, for the first time featuring a Green Zone to mobilise multilateral action and help drive funding for land restoration initiatives. Bolstering global drought resilience is a focal point of COP16, and the Riyadh Global Draught Resilience Partnership will help synergise and amplify international action on drought resilience and sift global response from one of reactive crises management to proactive prevention.

The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership was launched during the COP16 opening ceremony, and received pledges of $1 billion from the OPEC Fund, and $1 billion from the Islamic Development Bank. This comes in addition to the $150 million already pledged by Saudi Arabia to fund the initiative. The launch of the International Drought Resilience Observatory and Global Drought Atlas will help increase monitoring, prevention and awareness of drought around the world.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its vision and leadership in elevating the global land restoration and drought resilience agenda”, said Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, “whether through the G20, hosting this landmark COP and building its legacy, the Saudi Green Initiative, or most recently, the Middle East Green Initiative.”

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