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Mayors' Forum at COP16 highlights urban-rural synergies for sustainable land managementEngineer Waleed Al-Akrich, Deputy for Projects of the Riyadh Municipality, represented Dr. Faisal Al-Hadlaziz Al-Hayyar, Mayor of Riyadh. In his opening remarks, Al-Akrich emphasized the critical role of local and regional governments in combating desertification, land degradation, and drought. Speaking under the theme "Our Land, Our Future," he highlighted the transformative potential of multilevel governance frameworks, urging collaboration across governments, NGOs, and international entities."To secure our land and ensure our future, we need transformative policies, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that transcend borders," he declared.Moderated by Carlos Correa, former Mayor of Montevideo, the forum showcased diverse perspectives from mayors and local leaders worldwide. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and President of UCLG, shared innovative efforts in Turkey, such as restoring the dried Meke Lake and advancing water conservation. Noraini Roslan, representing Selangor State, Malaysia, highlighted strategies balancing urbanization with sustainability, including mangrove rehabilitation and wetland protection. Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco, illustrated the importance of urban-rural linkages in local reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts to combat climate change.The panel emphasized the need for collaborative governance, knowledge sharing, and sustainable solutions like nature-based projects, urban nature components, and integrated land-use planning. Participants stressed the importance of local governments as first responders to challenges such as land degradation, food security, and climate change, urging institutionalized roles for local authorities within the UNCCD framework.Rethinking urban-rural connections: A path to sustainable land useBuilding on the discussions from the Mayor's Forum, the release of the Primer on Urban-Rural Linkages and Land highlights how these connections are pivotal for sustainable development. Developed by UNCCD and UN-Habitat, the Primer offers a roadmap to foster equitable and sustainable interactions between urban and rural communities.Urban-rural linkages—flows of people, goods, services and ideas—are essential to sustain both vibrant urban centers and thriving rural communities. However, they also bring unique challenges, as detailed in the Primer. These include fragmented governance, resource exploitation, peri-urban expansion, and the interconnected challenges of land degradation and climate change. The Primer outlines solutions that prioritize multilevel governance, integrated land-use planning and nature-based approaches like investing in green infrastructure to support ecosystem health.Over 4.4 billion people live in urban areas today, a number expected to rise to 68% by 2050. Despite occupying less than 3% of the Earth's surface, cities consume nearly 70% of natural resources and generate over 70% of global emissions. Meanwhile, rural areas—providing essential resources like food, water, and energy—face increasing pressures from urban demand, deforestation, and land degradation. Strengthening urban-rural linkages is critical to address these disparities and build resilience against future challenges."We convene today as stewards of our communities, championing a future that aligns the social and ecological functions of land with the new urban agenda," stated Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who announced the Primer via video during the forum. She underscored the need for inclusive solutions to address migration pressures, food security, and water scarcity while ensuring no one is left behind.Setting the benchmark for collaborationThe discussions at COP16 and the launch of the Primer reaffirmed the commitment to stronger urban-rural linkages and sustainable land management. By aligning policies and actions across scales, the forum highlighted the critical role of local governments in shaping a resilient future.

Sustainable land and water management for drought pays off, says new reportRiyadh, Saudi Arabia — As droughts fuelled by human destruction of the environment are projected to affect 3 in 4 people by 2050, investing in sustainable land and water management is essential to reduce their costs, which already exceed $ 307 billion per year globally, according to a new report launched at  the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) earlier today.Drawing on a wealth of evidence and case studies from countries all around the world —like Chile, India, Jordan, Kenya, Spain, and Tunisia— the report makes the economic and business case for nature-based solutions (NbS) to drought. That is, for practices that restore ecosystem functions and soil health to enhance water flow, storage, and supply in support of human wellbeing —for example, reforestation, grazing management, and the management, restoration and conservation of watersheds.The report, ‘Economics of drought: Investing in nature-based solutions for drought resilience – proaction pays,’ is co-authored by the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative (ELD), the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) and the European Union.“Managing our land and water sustainably is essential to unlock economic growth and build resilience for communities that are becoming locked into cycles of drought around the world,” said UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza. “As talks for a landmark COP decision on drought are underway, the report calls on world leaders to recognize the outsized, and preventable, costs of drought, and to leverage proactive and nature-based solutions to secure human development within planetary boundaries.”Urbanization, deforestation, surface water and groundwater overdraft, and climate change are altering land cover and depleting freshwater reserves, meaning that drought is not only caused by the lack of rain, but also by the way we treat our land and water resources. Thus, the risk of water shortages as well as cyclical droughts and floods can be managed through adequate policies, incentives, and investments in our natural capital.The publication underscores that the long-term economic costs associated with droughts and related disasters are greatly underestimated. Especially, because costs typically escalate within and across borders due to the knock-on effects of drought on sectors like energy and health, as well as the wider economy.The estimated costs of implementing measures as set out by countries in their national drought and related plans amount to a fraction of the costs of drought every year.The triple dividend of natural-based solutions An economy that respects natural systems instead of undermining them could generate up to US$10.1 trillion annually in business value and create up to 395 million jobs by 2030. Tripling investment in Nature-based Solutions up to 2030 could generate 20 million additional jobs.“Proactive drought management is an ecological and societal imperative. It is also a significant economic opportunity”, said German Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Niels Annen. “Every dollar invested in nature-based solutions not only reduces drought impacts, but can generate benefits of up to US$27 - including higher farmer incomes, value chain resilience, and reduced long-term economic costs. We must urgently act to rethink how we value land and relearn how to manage land sustainably.”Nature-based solutions to drought yield a triple dividend: they reduce loss and damage from drought; increase the income of land and water users, and generate co-benefits for climate, nature and sustainable development more broadly. Most of these dividends –including food and water security— can be enjoyed regardless of the occurrence of drought, making nature-based solutions a no-regret option. RecommendationsThe report offers a series of recommendations to realize the potential of sustainable land and water management at landscape scales. For example, it points out the need to embed nature-based solutions in national drought management plans; ensure land tenure and water rights; and strengthen local governance, which is essential to implement changes on the ground.“The economic cost of drought extends beyond immediate agricultural losses. It affects entire supply chains, reduces GDP, impacts livelihoods, and leads to hunger, unemployment, migration, and long-term human security challenges; effective management and investment in nature are crucial to mitigate these effects,” said the Director of UNU-INWEH and one of the lead authors of the report Kaveh Madani. "The report provides invaluable insights into an opportunity sector that has been generally overlooked by public and private investors. Investment in natural capital is one of the most effective strategies for creating sustainable livelihoods and economic prosperity in harmony with nature while mitigating the impacts of droughts and climate change, especially in the developing economies of the Global South,” noted Madani.In terms of finance, the report highlights the potential of public-private partnerships; the need to repurpose harmful subsidies; as well as the role of impact data collection and monitoring in attracting investments from the private sector.Finally, it calls for a whole-of-society approach to proactive drought management, whereby authorities work hand-in-hand with farmers, landowners, businesses, civil society, and academia, to build the resilience of communities, economies and ecosystems to drought. “Unsustainable land and water management practices and other human actions that increase the frequency and intensity of droughts must be replaced by pre-emptive, anticipatory action in favour of our survival. Well-planned, timely investments in such actions are imperative,” says the report. QUOTESGovernmental entitiesKenya Drought Coordinator at National Drought Management Agency (NDMA) Henry Parkolwa: “Nature-based solutions are the most efficient and effective approaches to drought risk management in addressing crises of desertification, land degradation, drought, ecosystem services and biodiversity loss and to create a sustainable and equitable future for humanity.” Australia’s Minister for the Environment The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP“Nature needs to be factored into economic and business decisions. To make good decisions, we need to understand, measure and report on our economic dependence on nature, our impacts on nature and the value of ecosystems services that our communities and economies rely upon.”  Non-profits CEO of the Nature Conservancy Jennifer Morris"We celebrate the visionary leaders in cities around the world like Cape Town and São Paulo who have embraced Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to enhance resilience to drought in cost-effective ways that deliver multiple benefits. For instance, Cape Town is restoring its unique fynbos ecosystem, creating jobs, and securing the equivalent of two months’ water supply for the system—at just one-tenth the cost of conventional engineering solutions."CEO of India Climate Collaborative, a council of philanthropies for climate, Shloka Nath"Investing in land restoration and nature-based solutions to combat drought is critical. The climate crisis is intertwined with the biodiversity and water crises, and is aggravating socio-economic risks faced by farmers. This is a critical opportunity to acknowledge the interconnected risks vulnerable groups deal with, and support holistic, community-driven solutions. Through this, we can collectively enhance agricultural resilience, protect water resources, and foster sustainable economic growth. We call on stakeholders across India and beyond, including philanthropists, to prioritise these solutions for an equitable, sustainable future."CompaniesPablo García, CEO Almendrehesa, SpainDrought is one of the greatest threats to the productive systems of our territory, and of the entire Mediterranean basin, especially for agricultural systems, and even more so for rainfed crops. However, I believe that, like any challenge, it is also an incentive for new holistic landscape restoration approaches, which will allow us to respond to a demand for sustainable products that is undoubtedly growing in European markets and around the world. Regenerative agriculture is the new commitment of many companies to contribute to the society challenges through their supply chains.Ryan Gellert, CEO, Patagonia The 4 Returns Framework, contributing to the Ecoomics of Drought report, offers a science-based, long-term initiative for restoring healthy landscapes. If all sectors of society can support and adopt this framework, we will protect intact ecosystems vital for a healthy planet and thriving communities.  Jay Albany, CEO, Dirty Clean Food Pty Ltd, Perth, AustraliaIn Western Australia, we’ve experienced firsthand the drastic impacts from drought conditions.   Perth has just experienced its hottest summer on record.  Rainfall in Australia’s the Southwest – one of 34 internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots, where half of our 8,000 plant species are found nowhere else – has fallen by 20% since 1970 during the critical May -July period.   We believe it is vital to shift agricultural practices to build organic matter in our soils to improve water and nutrient retention, mitigating future drought risk.  For every 1% increase in organic matter, our soil can hold up to 30,000 more liters of water per hectare.***NOTES Launch: In Riyadh: 3 December 2024, 8:45 AM Riyadh time (GMT+3), Action DomeOnline: UN Web TVSide-event ‘The Economics of Drought – presentation of the UNCCD Flagship Report:In Riyadh: 3 December 2024, 15:30h Riyadh (GMT+3), MET-05: 275  Download the full Economics of Drought Report (available in English): https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/economics-drought-investing-nature-based-solutions-drought-resilienceMedia enquiries:                                                                                                                    Please contact UNCCD Press Office at press@unccd.intSocial media:@UNCCD @ELD@UNUINWEH #COP16Riyadh    #UNCCDCOP16    #Economics4LandAbout UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement on good land stewardship. It supports communities and countries in creating wealth and securing nutritious food, clean water and energy through sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties also set up robust systems to proactively manage drought risks. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change, and prevents biodiversity loss.  About ELD:The Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative is a global initiative that makes the values of land and its ecosystem services count in decisions with the aim to inform, promote, and scale land solutions for transformative change. Established in 2011 between the UNCCD, EU and Germany, and hosted by GIZ, ELD informed better land decisions with +40 case studies in +30 countries and raised global awareness with numerous flagship reports. In working at the science-policy-practice interface, ELD connects science with policy and business aiming to support decision maker in transforming existing pledges for land to real policy and business action.About UNU-INWEHThe United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) is one of 13 institutions that form the United Nations University (UNU), the academic arm of the United Nations. Hosted by the Government of Canada, UNU-INWEH focuses on major sustainability challenges, addressing critical water, environmental, and health issues worldwide. Through research, training, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination, UNU-INWEH is dedicated to resolving pressing global challenges that are of concern to the United Nations and its member states.About IDRA The International Drought Resilence Alliance (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. As a growing platform of more than 30 countries and 20 institutions, IDRA draws on the collective strengths of its members to advance policies, actions, and capacity-building for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The work of IDRA is aligned with, and supportive of, the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which hosts the IDRA Secretariat.

Atlas launched as UNCCD Member States, meeting in Riyadh, negotiate drought resilience effortsRiyadh, Saudi Arabia — As record-breaking droughts are becoming a new normal around the globe, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) launch the most comprehensive global publication on drought risks and solutions as an urgent wake-up call for world leaders and citizens.The World Drought Atlas depicts the systemic nature of drought risks for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Through dozens of maps, infographics, and case studies, it illustrates how drought risks are interconnected across sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport, and international trade and how they can trigger cascading effects, fueling inequalities and conflicts and threatening public health.Co-produced with Cima Research Foundation (Italy), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security (Germany), its publication comes as UNCCD’s 197 member states, meeting in Riyadh, negotiate how to build humanity’s resilience to harsher droughts. Droughts are one of the world’s most costly and deadly hazards and are on track to affect 3 in 4 people globally by 2050. However, many countries and sectors are still failing to prepare for them through the right actions, policies, investments, and incentives.“The World Drought Atlas challenges governments, business leaders, and policy makers at all levels to radically rethink how they make decisions and manage drought risk,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. “I call on all nations, and in particular the Parties to the UNCCD, to take the findings of the Atlas seriously. At UNCCD COP16, Parties could change the course of history towards drought resilience. Let us seize the moment with the knowledge that the Atlas provides a path for a more resilient future for all.” The Atlas underscores the need for national drought plans and international cooperation to keep communities, economies, and ecosystems afloat in the face of harsher events. Additionally, it offers guidance for proactive and prospective drought management and adaptation across sectors and governance levels.Drought impacts are typically less visible, and attract less attention, than sudden events like floods and earthquakes. That is particularly true for the effects on ecosystems, which tend to be neglected in national drought plans despite their crippling impacts on economies and communities. But fast-onset droughts, known as flash droughts, more intense droughts—and more readily apparent impacts—are also becoming commonplace.HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ATLASImpacts of human-made droughtsThe World Drought Atlas explains how worsening drought risks are linked to human activities and then delves into the impacts of drought in five key areas—water supply, agriculture, hydropower, inland navigation, and ecosystems. Droughts can reduce hydropower generation, leading to higher energy prices or power outages, and can disrupt international trade due to low water levels that hinder inland waterway transportation, as seen with the Panama Canal. On the nature front, the Atlas notes that while droughts pose a threat to ecosystems, greater biodiversity can mitigate drought impacts, meaning that promoting biodiversity is important to build drought resilience and vice versa.The food-land-water nexus is another major focus of the Atlas, since agriculture accounts for around 70% of freshwater use globally, and is also seriously impacted by drought. The publication explores how the agricultural products that reach our plates through global supply chains can worsen the effects of droughts and create water-stress in the countries where they are produced through virtual water transfers. Small-scale farmers and marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable due to disparities in water access and resources needed to build resilience to drought.The Atlas also shows how drought risks are interconnected and why their effects span across sectors. Countries reliant on hydropower for electricity, for instance, may face power outages during droughts. If this happens during a heatwave, it can result in hospitalizations and deaths as people cannot use fans or air conditioning to cool their homes.Lessons from recent droughtsThe Atlas features 21 case studies from around the world, underscoring that no country—whatever its size, GDP, or latitude—is immune to drought and all can better prepare for it. For example, the publication highlights impacts and lessons learned from recent droughts on the Great Plains of the US, in the city of Barcelona in Spain, and in the Yangtze River basin in China and explores drought impacts across the Central American Dry Corridor, the Indian subcontinent, and the Horn of Africa. Other case studies highlight the particular needs, resources, and perspectives of Indigenous communities when it comes to preparing for drought.Droughts have increased by 29% since the year 2000 due to climate change and the unsustainable management of land and water resources. The UN considers human-made drought an emergency on a planetary scale, but notes that drought risks can be tackled with the right actions, policies and investments.How to build drought resilienceThe Atlas describes concrete measures and pathways to manage, reduce, and adapt to systemic drought risks; underscores the co-benefits of these actions for different sectors; and showcases best practices from different regions.  The measures highlighted in the Atlas fall into three categories: governance (e.g. early warning systems, microinsurance for smallholder farmers, pricing schemes for water usage); land-use management (e.g. land restoration and agroforestry); and the management of water supply and use (e.g. wastewater reuse, managed groundwater recharge and conservation.)As highlighted by the Atlas, the Secretariat of the UNCCD, its Communities of Learning and Practice, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the European Commission Joint Research Centre, the regional and global networks and partner institutions listed in the publication, and communities themselves can develop and provide the necessary knowledge, tools, and support to transform science into policy and policy into drought resilience action today“The Atlas is a powerful new resource to build political momentum for proactive drought risk management ahead of UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh. We already have the knowledge and tools to build our resilience to harsher droughts. It is now our collective responsibility, and in our best interest, to take action for a drought-resilient future,” sums up the Secretary of State of Environment of Spain, which co-chairs the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) together with Senegal.***QUOTES:CIMA Research Foundation: “The World Drought Atlas brings together experts and practitioners across disciplines and borders to create a comprehensive tool for understanding and visualizing drought’s multifaceted impacts while proposing sustainable solutions. This collaborative effort serves as a model for political action, underscoring that collective engagement is crucial for building resilient and adaptive societies”, said Lauro Rossi,  Program Director at CIMA Research Foundation, one of the coordinators of the Atlas. Marthe Wens, senior drought researcher at the Institute for Environmental Studies of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: “Human activities are driving or exacerbating droughts and their impacts on society. This is clearly depicted in the Atlas, and based on scientific literature and using examples from around the world. It also means that through our management of land and water we have the ability to reduce drought impacts and increase our systems' resilience.”Shen Xiaomeng, Director of UNU-EHS: “The World Drought Atlas underscores the urgent need to rethink how we perceive and address drought risks in our interconnected world. It challenges us to go beyond temporary fixes and imagine systemic and dynamic solutions that not only reduce risks comprehensively, but also prioritize the most vulnerable.”Hugo Morán, State Secretary of Environment of Spain, which co-chairs the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA): Droughts are one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Climate change and the unsustainable management of land and water resources has made them more frequent and intens,  affecting communities and ecosystems. UNCCD COP16 is a unique opportunity to strengthen the technical, political and financial conditions to address droughts and the World Drought Atlas represents a key instrument to support these efforts.’NOTESLaunch:In Riyadh: ‘Ministerial Dialogue on drought resilience: From Geneva to Riyadh and beyond, enhancing global and national policy instruments for a proactive drought management approach’. 15 h Riyadh (GMT+3), Main Committee RoomOnline: UN WebTVFull Global Drought Atlas available soon in English on the UNCCD website:https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlasMedia enquiries: press@unccd.int, cc gpallares@unccd.int and terrycollins1@gmail.comSocial media:@UNCCD    #UNCCDCOP16  (Primary)#COP16Riyadh (Secondary)About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement on good land stewardship. It supports communities and countries in creating wealth and securing nutritious food, clean water and energy through sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties also set up robust systems to proactively manage drought risks. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change, and prevents biodiversity loss.  About the European Commission's Joint Research Centre:The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission plays a key role at multiple stages of the EU policy cycle by providing independent, evidence-based science and knowledge, supporting EU policies to positively impact society. The JRC works closely with other Commission departments, EU institutions and agencies, as well as with scientific partners and policy organisations in Europe and internationally, offering scientific expertise and competences from a wide range of scientific disciplines. About CIMA Research FoundationCIMA Research Foundation is an international center of excellence dedicated to the study and management of weather-related risks. Founded in Italy in 2007, CIMA is a research organization that combines scientific research, applied technology, and capacity development into disaster risk reduction. Widely recognized for its innovative contributions to early warning systems and risk assessment, CIMA collaborates with international organizations like the UN system, the World Bank, the European Commission, and national governments, providing scientific and technical support for projects in vulnerable regions, including Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean. Through its interdisciplinary approach that integrates technical and social sciences, CIMA bridges the gap between research and practical application. Its scientifically grounded and actionable solutions address real-world challenges with evidence-based strategies.About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam:Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam is a unique university in the Netherlands with faculties in the humanities, STEM, social sciences, and medical sciences. The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) is part of VU. IVM is the oldest environmental research institute in the Netherlands (est. 1971), and currently one of the world's leading institutes in sustainability science. IVM works at the forefront of current scientific and societal debates to contribute to a more sustainable planet. Through multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary solution-oriented research, IVM researchers aim to understand the world’s complexity and provide ways forward. They study hydrological and climate processes, and how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. The Drought Risk group of IVM is developing new methodologies and policy-relevant results on the topics of drought risk analysis and drought adaptation.About UNU-EHS:United Nations University is the global think tank of the United Nations. The Institute for Environment and Human Security (Bonn, Germany) focuses on advancing human security and well-being by reducing current and future risks from environmental hazards and climate change. Its main areas of work are risk & adaptation and transformation. https://unu.edu/ehsAbout IDRA The International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. As a growing platform of more than 30 countries and 20 institutions, IDRA draws on the collective strengths of its members to advance policies, actions, and capacity-building for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The work of IDRA is aligned with, and supportive of, the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which hosts the IDRA Secretariat.The Atlas is available for media preview at https://bit.ly/4g2VvPFSelected maps: https://bit.ly/3CK4oz7