Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency concluded with over $12 billion secured for land restoration and drought resilience initiatives, launching the Riyadh Action Agenda and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership to mobilize international action against desertification and drought. The conference saw significant pledges and collaborations, marking a critical step towards a more sustainable future.
A landmark UN report reveals that a staggering 77.6% of Earth’s land has experienced drier conditions, fueling a global desertification crisis. The UNCCD summit in Riyadh is tackling this urgent issue, but funding and international cooperation remain major hurdles.
The UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh will employ a unique dual-track strategy, combining negotiations with an Action Agenda, to address the urgent global challenges of land degradation, desertification, and drought. This innovative approach aims to accelerate solutions through both political commitments and tangible on-the-ground initiatives.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh will feature a groundbreaking Green Zone, including a Business for Land Forum, aiming to attract private sector investment and address the pressing issue of land degradation. The event will focus on sustainable land practices, innovative financing, and improved governance, ultimately seeking to reverse the $7 trillion annually invested in environmentally damaging activities.
Ahead of the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, BRICS leaders have issued a joint statement urging increased financial support and partnerships to address land degradation, desertification, and drought. The statement highlights the pressing need for global action to protect the environment and prevent further degradation, which affects over 40% of the planet and impacts billions of lives. Saudi Arabia, the host of the UNCCD COP16, welcomes this support as it prepares to lead the global effort to tackle these critical environmental challenges.
BRICS nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have issued a joint statement calling for increased financial resources and international collaboration to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought. This call to action comes ahead of the UNCCD COP16, a major environmental conference to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2-13. The conference aims to accelerate land restoration efforts and build drought resilience, particularly in vulnerable regions.
Saudi Arabia has urged global policymakers to prioritize tackling land degradation, drought, and desertification ahead of the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh this December. The upcoming conference aims to be a turning point in global efforts to restore degraded land and build resilience against drought, with a focus on achieving the Land Degradation Neutrality targets by 2030.
The UN has declared a decade-long initiative to combat sand and dust storms, highlighting the growing threat these events pose to health, economies, and the environment. The initiative aims to promote international cooperation and sustainable practices to mitigate the effects of these storms.
Korean Air has marked the 20th anniversary of its ‘Korean Air Forest’ initiative in Baganuur, Mongolia. The reforestation effort was launched in 2004 to combat desertification caused by open-pit coal mining operations in the area. The project was temporarily paused for four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed planting activities in May 2024. Over the past 20 years, Korean Air has planted over 125,300 trees representing 12 species, covering an area of 44 hectares. The forest has become a natural barrier against dust and debris from nearby coal mines, and a habitat for diverse wildlife. Korean Air’s efforts have been recognized with awards from the Mongolian government and Ministry of Environment and Tourism for its contributions to environmental conservation.
