9 December: Science, Technology and Innovation Day
Science, Technology, and Innovation Day at UNCCD COP16 focused on advancing scientific and technological solutions to support land health and resilient communities. With land degradation escalating, it aimed to bridge science and policy by engaging diverse stakeholders — research institutions, data providers, tech developers and civil society — to drive ambitious, science-based action for sustainable land management.
This thematic day featured high-level dialogues and interactive sessions, including the launch of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum. Through these events, the Day sought to promote innovations that address land degradation and enhance drought resilience.
Event focus
- Scaling up science for land and drought: Highlighted critical gaps in land and drought science and explores investment needs for advancing sustainable land management, featuring the dialogue Healing Our Land through Science and Earth Intelligence
- Empowering young scientists: Engaged emerging researchers in discussions on land restoration, climate resilience and policy innovation through the Re-Generation Young Scientists Dialogue
- Showcasing Earth intelligence solutions: The Science and Innovation Hub featured user-driven Earth intelligence tools for addressing land degradation, with a focus on innovative finance to advance these applications
Objectives
- Raise ambition for science and innovation: Promote the role of science, technology and innovation in enhancing land and drought resilience
- Support emerging scientists: Encourage a new generation of researchers in land resilience, fostering intergenerational collaboration
- Integrate Earth intelligence: Emphasize Earth intelligence as a tool for sustainable land management and drought resilience
The Green Zone also hosted a Science-Policy Interface Day, dedicated to fostering dialogue among scientists, policymakers and practitioners on addressing desertification, land degradation and drought with particular focus on historical and future aridity trends and sustainable land use systems.
By fostering collaboration and innovation, Science Day at UNCCD COP16 aimed to accelerate progress in land restoration and resilience building worldwide.
Co-leads
