Riyadh – The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded on Saturday in Riyadh with the adoption of 35 resolutions on crucial environmental issues.
These include the fight against land degradation and drought, migration, dust and sand storms, as well as strengthening the role of science, research, innovation, women, youth, civil society, and indigenous peoples to address environmental challenges.
Speaking at the closing of COP16, the Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and president of the Conference, Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preserving ecosystems, enhancing international cooperation in combating desertification and land degradation, and fighting drought during his country’s presidency of the current session of the conference.
He also highlighted the active participation of over 85,000 participants, including representatives from international organizations, the private sector, civil society institutions and centers, adding that more than 900 events were organized as part of COP16, making this session a historic turning point in international mobilization aimed at strengthening the achievement of the goals of the agreement on the ground and reducing soil degradation and the effects of drought.
Furthermore, the Saudi minister indicated that his country launched three important environmental initiatives during the conference, including an early warning initiative for dust and sand storms, the Riyadh Global Partnership initiative aimed at enhancing resilience to drought, in addition to the Business for Land initiative, which aims to strengthen the role of the private sector worldwide in participating in land conservation efforts, reducing land degradation, and adopting sustainable management concepts.
He also noted that a number of governments, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other participants in the Conference have also launched several other initiatives, praising the announcement by regional donors to allocate $12 billion to support projects aimed at reducing land degradation and the effects of drought.
Held from December 2 to 13, the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is taking place for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa, thus confirming the pioneering role of the Kingdom in environmental protection at both regional and international levels.