Saudi Arabia creates 'Friends of the Chair' group to influence COP16 results

Saudi Arabia is currently hosting the UNCCD COP16 conference from December 2-13, 2024, in Riyadh. A significant focus of the conference has been the launch of Land Day, which is part of a series of thematic days designed to address land degradation, desertification, and drought issues. On this important day, there were critical discussions on mobilizing international resources for land restoration, highlighting the need for increased private sector involvement in financing efforts. It was noted that only 6% of financial commitments for land resilience and drought restoration have come from private sources, prompting calls for the private sector to 'ramp up' funding. The Business for Land forum was a key event during Land Day, bringing together leaders from business, government, and civil society to discuss the intersection of business, finance, and environmental policy. Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment and an advisor to the COP16 presidency, delivered a keynote address emphasizing that businesses have historically benefited from land exploitation. He stressed the importance of restoration efforts to secure the future stability of businesses and economies, advocating for a potential trillion-dollar restoration economy. Furthermore, discussions addressed the state of different land types globally, particularly focusing on rangelands, which constitute approximately 54% of the earth's land cover but are facing severe degradation. Over 50% of rangelands have already been compromised, threatening food security for one-sixth of humanity and jeopardizing one-third of the planet's carbon reservoir. Experts and officials at COP16 stressed that financial investment and innovative solutions are crucial to combat these pressing issues effectively. The conference also underscored the interconnected nature of land degradation with biodiversity loss and climate change. Following a series of global events addressing these challenges, the EU has committed to cooperating with international partners to tackle critical issues like food security while advocating for stronger connections between climate change, biodiversity, and land conservation initiatives. The UNCCD COP16 aims to foster a comprehensive framework that encourages proactive, long-term strategies in land management rather than merely reacting to crises as they emerge.