The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2–13, 2024. This landmark event, themed “Our Land, Our Future,” commemorates the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and focuses on combating desertification, land degradation, and drought globally. COP16 is critical for advancing sustainable land management as a cornerstone of global food, water, and energy security.
Why COP16 Matters
The urgency of COP16 lies in the increasing threats from land degradation, which affects 40% of global land and jeopardizes the livelihoods of over half of humanity. With droughts becoming more frequent and severe, the conference aims to:
- Restore degraded lands to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030.
- Enhance resilience to climate shocks, droughts, and biodiversity loss.
- Scale up investments and innovative financing for land restoration.
- Strengthen policies for inclusive land governance.
Saudi Arabia, as the host, is leveraging its initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative to showcase solutions to combat desertification in one of the most water-scarce regions globally
India’s Role and Perspective
India, a founding party to the UNCCD, has been a proactive player in combating land degradation. The country previously hosted COP14 in 2019, where it pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. At COP16, India continues advocating for:
- International cooperation on sustainable agriculture and land restoration.
- Financial and technological support to developing nations.
- Initiatives aligning with its domestic programs such as the National Action Plan for Climate Change and afforestation projects
UNCCD: History and Achievements
Established in 1994 as one of the three Rio Conventions, the UNCCD addresses desertification, land degradation, and drought. Over three decades, the convention has:
- Promoted the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality as a global target.
- Mobilized funding for restoration efforts, with over $22 billion raised globally for sustainable projects.
- Launched frameworks to integrate traditional knowledge, gender equality, and youth participation in land management
| COP | Year | Place | Major Outcome |
| COP 1 | 1997 | Rome, Italy | Adoption of the 10-Year Strategic Plan and Framework to Enhance the Implementation of the Convention |
| COP 2 | 1998 | Dakar, Senegal | Adoption of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification in Africa |
| COP 3 | 1999 | Recife, Brazil | Adoption of the Regional Action Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean |
| COP 4 | 2000 | Bonn, Germany | Adoption of the Global Mechanism as a financial mechanism of the Convention |
| COP 5 | 2001 | Geneva, Switzerland | Adoption of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes to Combat Desertification in the Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa |
| COP 6 | 2003 | Havana, Cuba | Adoption of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes to Combat Desertification in Asia |
| COP 7 | 2005 | Nairobi, Kenya | Adoption of the Strategic Plan 2008-2018 |
| COP 8 | 2007 | Madrid, Spain | Adoption of the Thematic Programme on Dryland Agriculture |
| COP 9 | 2009 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Adoption of the Thematic Programme on Land Use and Water Management |
| COP 10 | 2011 | Changwon, South Korea | Adoption of the Thematic Programme on Technology Transfer |
| COP 11 | 2013 | Windhoek, Namibia | Adoption of the Thematic Programme on Climate Change |
| COP 12 | 2015 | Ankara, Turkey | Adoption of the Strategic Framework 2018-2030 |
| COP 13 | 2017 | Ordos City, China | Adoption of the 2030 Land Degradation Neutrality target |
| COP 14 | 2019 | New Delhi, India | Adoption of the New Delhi Declaration: Investing in Land and Unlocking Opportunities |
| COP 15 | 2022 | Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire | Adoption of the Abidjan Declaration: Restoring Land, Ending Drought, Securing Our Future |
| COP 16 | 2024 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
The Riyadh COP16 underscores the increasing alignment of global climate, biodiversity, and land goals to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This conference represents a crucial juncture to drive action against the escalating challenges of desertification and foster a sustainable future.
