EU Confirms Participation in Riyadh’s COP16 to Combat Desertification.

Riyadh: The European Commission has confirmed its participation in the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), scheduled to take place from December 2 to 13 in Riyadh. In a statement, the European Commission announced its representation of the European Union (EU) at the conference in the Saudi capital, collaborating with international partners to tackle the global issues of desertification, land degradation, and drought. According to Saudi Press Agency, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall is set to participate in the high-level segment on Monday, December 2, as per the statement. The EU's key priorities involve partnering with others to identify practical solutions for addressing drought comprehensively, placing a particular emphasis on proactive drought management. The statement underscores that efforts to combat drought and land degradation, including enhancing wa ter resilience, are integral to securing the EU's strategic autonomy, competitiveness, and security. On the conference sidelines, the EU will engage in the high-level One Water Summit, highlighting global collaboration in water resilience and setting the stage for the upcoming United Nations Water Conference in 2026. These initiatives underscore the commitment to addressing the water crisis, as outlined in the EU Water Resilience Strategy set out in the Political Guidelines for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.