UNCCD COP16 Riyadh President: 3 Billion People Affected, $6 Trillion Lost Annually because of Land Degradation.

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, elected for the presidency of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), was officially handed over the presidency during the opening plenary session held in Riyadh today, marking the commencement of a two-year tenure dedicated to driving international action on land rehabilitation, reclamation, restoration of fertility and vitality, and combating desertification and drought. According to Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi capital has emerged as a focal point for policymakers, international organizations, companies, institutions, non-governmental organizations, and major stakeholders to convene and seek urgent international solutions to the pressing global crises posed by land degradation, drought, and desertification. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and COP16 President Abdulrahman Alfadley said that Saudi Arabia hosts the event as part of its endeavor to pres erve the environment nationally, regionally, and globally. He highlighted global statistics, noting that over 100 million hectares of agricultural land, forests, and pastures are degraded annually, impacting over 3 billion people worldwide. The economic toll of land degradation exceeds $6 trillion each year. Alfadley said: "Saudi Arabia is seeking to strengthen efforts under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to tackle significant environmental challenges. We aim to enhance integration with other key international agreements, particularly the Rio Conventions on climate change and biodiversity. Our goal is to achieve ambitious objectives that drive a transformative shift in land conservation, reduce land degradation, build resilience against drought, and contribute to improving well-being globally." Alfadley stressed that the Middle East faces significant challenges due to land degradation, drought, and desertification, and that Saudi Arabia seeks to collaborate with the international co mmunity to tackle these issues. Under Saudi Vision 2030, environmental protection has been prioritized, leading to the adoption of the National Environment Strategy, the establishment of the environmental fund, and the five specialized environmental centers, he said. The Kingdom has also updated its environmental regulations to align with global standards, and launched various initiatives to promote sustainability, expand the vegetation cover and wildlife, improve waste management, and advance climate research, he added. Alfadley noted that the Saudi Green Initiative aims to rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land and expand protected areas to 30% of the country by 2030, a target that was announced by the Kingdom in 2021, before the global target announced in Montreal at the end of 2022. The Kingdom is also working to increase the amount of renewable energy to 50% of energy used by 2030, thus reduce carbon emissions. He also stressed that Saudi Arabia adopted national strategies to ensure water sustainability, make agriculture production more efficient, improve land management, ensure food security and reduce food loss and waste. Alfadley said that the loss of biodiversity and the climate change threaten the fundamental elements of life, affecting 1.8 billion people and driving increased migration. He emphasized the need to strengthen international efforts to tackle these challenges, within the framework of the Convention to Combat Desertification, and expressed optimism about reaching a new phase in land conservation, drought reduction, and achieving water and food security, as well as the overall quality of life. Alfadley expressed gratitude to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire for its presidency during the 15th session, as well as to the bureau members and the convention secretariat for their effective oversight of the implementation process. He also thanked all state parties, international and regional organizations, and civil society organizations participating in the current session. He said th at the current agenda covers important issues related to land degradation, drought and desertification, and stressed the need to focus on the strategic framework of the United Nations Convention for the period 2018-2030.