UNCCD COP16 In Riyadh Highlights Land Degradation Affecting 3 Billion People And $6 Trillion Loss Annually

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken on the presidency of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This leadership role was officially transferred during the opening session in Riyadh, marking a two-year commitment to addressing global issues like land rehabilitation and desertification. The event has drawn policymakers, organizations, and stakeholders to discuss urgent solutions for these environmental challenges.

Minister Abdulrahman Alfadley, who is also the COP16 President, spoke at the ceremony. He stated that hosting this event aligns with Saudi Arabia's efforts to protect the environment on multiple levels. Highlighting alarming statistics, he noted that annually over 100 million hectares of land are degraded, affecting more than 3 billion people worldwide. The economic impact of this degradation surpasses $6 trillion each year.

Under Saudi Vision 2030, environmental protection is a priority. This has led to the creation of a National Environment Strategy and an environmental fund. Additionally, five specialized environmental centers have been established. The Kingdom has updated its regulations to meet global standards and launched initiatives to promote sustainability, increase vegetation cover, improve waste management, and advance climate research.

The Saudi Green Initiative aims to rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. It also plans to expand protected areas to cover 30% of the country by that year. Announced in 2021, this target precedes a similar global goal set in Montreal in late 2022. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is working towards using renewable energy for half of its energy needs by 2030 to cut carbon emissions.

Alfadley emphasized that the Middle East faces significant challenges from land degradation and drought. Saudi Arabia seeks international collaboration to address these issues effectively. He stressed the importance of integrating efforts under UNCCD with other international agreements like those on climate change and biodiversity.

The current agenda at COP16 includes critical issues related to land degradation and desertification. Alfadley highlighted the need for focus on the strategic framework set by the United Nations Convention for 2018-2030. He expressed gratitude towards Côte d'Ivoire for its leadership during COP15 and acknowledged all participating organizations for their contributions.

Alfadley pointed out that biodiversity loss and climate change threaten essential life elements, impacting 1.8 billion people and increasing migration rates. He called for stronger international efforts within UNCCD's framework to tackle these challenges effectively.

He also mentioned national strategies aimed at ensuring water sustainability, enhancing agricultural efficiency, improving land management practices, securing food supply chains, and reducing food waste.

The Minister expressed optimism about entering a new phase in land conservation efforts. He believes these initiatives will help reduce drought impacts while achieving water security and improving overall quality of life globally.

With inputs from SPA