Three billion people worldwide are grappling with the devastating effects of degraded land, a crisis that threatens to escalate migration, destabilize communities, and intensify insecurity.
Addressing this pressing issue, Abdulrahman Alfadley, the newly-elected president of COP16 to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), stressed the urgent need for action at the conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Alfadley, who also serves as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, described the conference as a critical turning point. According to UNCCD, COP16 represents a “moonshot moment” to advance global efforts for land restoration and drought resilience, emphasizing a people-centered approach.
Currently, up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded, significantly undermining climate stability, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
The UNCCD reported that drought, a focal point of the conference, has increased in frequency and severity by 29% since 2000 due to climate change and unsustainable land practices.
“Land restoration is primarily about nurturing humanity itself,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, highlighting the far-reaching impact of land degradation.
Sharing his firsthand encounters with farmers, mothers, and youth affected by land loss, Thiaw described the widespread repercussions. “The cost of land degradation seeps into every corner of their lives. They see it in rising grocery prices, unexpected energy surcharges, and the growing strain on their communities,” he said.
He added that “land and soil loss are robbing poor families of nutritious food and children of a safe future.”
The financial requirements for combating land degradation are substantial. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, in a video address, emphasized the need for collective global efforts, calling on participants to “turn the tide” by strengthening international cooperation, ramping up restoration initiatives, and mobilizing significant investments.
“Cumulative investments must total $2.6 trillion by 2030,” she said. “That is what the world spent on defense in 2023 alone.”
Delegates are grappling with the challenge of securing financing, which will require contributions from both public and private sectors.
Inclusive Participation for Effective Solutions
Inclusive decision-making remains a priority at COP16. Civil society representative Tahanyat Naeem Satti called for “ambitious and inclusive action at COP16.”
She urged the institutionalization of meaningful participation from women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and local communities, emphasizing that “their insights and lived experiences are critical for shaping policies that effectively address land degradation and promote sustainable land management.”
Despite the daunting challenges, Thiaw remains optimistic about reversing land degradation. “Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation, but only if we seize this pivotal moment,” he said, underscoring the conference’s potential to foster collaboration and chart a sustainable path forward.
The conference, which will run through December 13, brings together global leaders, researchers, and organizations to discuss innovative solutions for addressing land degradation. Delegates are expected to engage in intense negotiations to achieve meaningful environmental outcomes.
Degraded land already impacts billions, with consequences for food security, biodiversity, and economic stability. As small farms in places like northern Kenya struggle to grow crops under increasingly arid conditions, the urgency of restoring degraded land has never been clearer.
According to UNCCD, reversing these trends is essential to ensure a stable and sustainable future.
However, it will require unwavering commitment, robust international cooperation, and unprecedented financial investments to achieve these goals.
As the two-week conference progresses, the developments in Riyadh will be monitored, as the decisions made could significantly influence the global approach to land management for years to come.
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