News & stories

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Dear Friends, Before we begin our work, allow me to reflect on where we stand. Just a few kilometers from here lies one of the world’s most important waterways, the Panama Canal. Today, water levels are at historic lows. Ships move more slowly. Transit is restricted. Costs rise. And the ripple effects extend far beyond Panama: from the Suez Canal to the Rhine, the world is watching.  But this is not only a story about global navigation, it is a story about people. It is about food prices, water scarcity, disrupted value chains, and strained livelihoods. It reminds us that land, water, climate, and economies are deeply interconnected, and that when land and water fail, everything downstream feels the impact. This is the human reality I have witnessed in my first 100 days as Executive Secretary. These are the stories that come from you.  “Healthy land and soils are the foundation of food, water, stability, and peace.” And I want to begin by expressing my deepest appreciation to all Parties for your confidence in my appointment as Executive Secretary of this important Convention. It is a profound responsibility. And I commit, clearly that I will serve all Parties equally, transparently, and with the utmost professionalism. And my thanks goes to my brother Ibrahim Thiaw for the legacy he left and which I have the pleasure to build upon. Over the next days, we gather not to negotiate, but to deliver. CRIC is where we measure progress, identify gaps, and accelerate solutions. Let me be clear: “CRIC is not a negotiation body, it is a platform for delivery.” I will ensure that the session remains constructive, and focused on implementation. All Party requests will be addressed under their appropriate agenda items. And I will work closely with the CRIC Chair, the COP16 Presidency, and the incoming COP17 Presidency to ensure continuity and coherence. One of the most important topics from here to COP17 is Drought.  Drought is advancing faster than ever, affecting millions today and threatening billions tomorrow. Three in four people may face drought by 2050 unless we change course. From Egypt to Chile to the Sahel, the message is clear: “Drought is predictable, and if it’s predictable, it’s preventable.” Since COP16, we were able to advance some of the work on Drought the Presidency has advanced the Tafá’ul Process to help parties to find possible solutions to achieve a negotiation outcome at COP 17 The Secretariat is committed to support countries to shift from a fragmented crisis response to an integrated drought risk governance. We are: Strengthening early warning and anticipatory action Supporting drought-smart policy reforms Developing technical guidance  Preparing the IDRO Observatory architecture to support evidence-based decision-making These efforts support Parties in developing national drought plans, aligning ministries, improving water governance, and protecting vulnerable communities before crisis strikes. I want to thank the COP16 Presidency and partners for launching the Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP). But a fundamental truth remains: “Drought without finance remains words on paper.” Which I would like to address today. This is why advancing the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF) which provides a practical roadmap to help countries identify pipelines of bankable drought-resilience projects, mobilize blendd finance, and scale nature-based solutions. We are also strengthening tools to support Parties in developing drought-smart investment plans through: DRIF national pilots RGDRP partner coordination Integration with IDRA and IDRO technical products Restoring land and investing in resilience makes economic sense: Each dollar invested in restoration yields up to 30 dollars in benefitsInvestments in drought resilience pay off tenfoldWe will continue working on land restoration. Yet today, only 6% of land restoration and drought finance comes from the private sector. Let me state clearly: “Only six percent of land restoration finance comes from the private sector, this must change.” We need public, private, and philanthropic capital working together to unlock resilience at scale. Rangelands sustain nearly half a billion people. As we prepare for COP17 in Mongolia and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists: “Rangelands sustain hundreds of millions of people, yet remain undervalued and under threat.” This is the moment to elevate them. But the real story comes from the real people – we have focused on Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus and the Local Communities Caucus, who along with women, bear the greatest burden of the impacts of drought and land degradation. Tomorrow afternoon, a consultation will take place on the work Indigenous representatives have undertaken over recent months, inviting feedback from Parties and observers. We continue to mobilize resources to advance this important work.  Everywhere I go, I meet the people who protect and restore land every day. Their message is simple: “You cannot protect land without protecting the people who care for it.” Women, youth, Indigenous custodians, farmers, and herders hold the knowledge and the courage needed to safeguard our soils and water. But without: -Secure land rightsAccess to financeOpportunities for youthand a fair share of benefitsOur restoration efforts will not succeed. People are at the heart of the UNCCD mission. More than three billion people are already affected by land degradation, human lives, not numbers. Excellencies, colleagues, friends, We meet at a pivotal moment, a moment of rising droughts, declining water, and pressure on land. But it is also a moment of solutions, science, and collective determination. The story of the Panama Canal reminds us of one truth: “What happens upstream on land shapes everything downstream.” Let us choose to shape it wisely. Let us choose resilience. Let us choose communities. Let us choose the land that sustains us all I thank you. 

联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）197个缔约方齐聚巴拿马，评估从利雅得到乌兰巴托的工作进展 巴拿马计划到2035年恢复10万公顷退化土地，作为推进土地、气候与生物多样性目标的开创性战略 巴拿马城，2025年12月1日 – 本周，联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）的197个缔约方于巴拿马召开履约审查委员会第二十三届会议（CRIC23），核心议题是应对全球肥沃土地流失和日益严重的干旱。 当前形势十分严峻：如果现有趋势持续，到2050年，几乎与南美洲同等面积的土地（1,600万平方公里）将持续退化，而全球对粮食、水资源和能源的需求却在持续上升。过去三十年间，全球三分之二的土地持续趋于干旱化，而过去两年更是出现了有记录以来最广泛和破坏性最大的干旱。在巴拿马，干旱已影响运河通行，对全球贸易产生显著影响。 联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）执行秘书亚斯敏·福阿德（Yasmine Fouad）表示：“社区、经济和生态系统的韧性取决于健康的土地。然而，每年我们仍在破坏相当于埃及国土面积的土地，削弱土地生产粮食、涵养水源、维系生物多样性的能力，以及保护人类免受干旱、洪水和沙尘暴侵袭的能力。投资可持续土地管理、土地恢复和基于自然的解决方案，不仅是保护环境的必要举措，更是发展的当务之急，也是对稳定、繁荣与和平的战略投资。” “CRIC23是评估我们集体进展的重要时刻，也是加强从利雅得到乌兰巴托联系的关键纽带，并将土地与干旱韧性作为连接三大《里约公约》的核心线索。唯有携手合作，我们才能加速迈向更具韧性、粮食安全且与自然和谐共生的未来。” 从利雅得到乌兰巴托 CRIC23将回顾联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）第16次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP16，2024年12月，沙特利雅得）决议的实施进展，并讨论公约2030年后的路线图。 沙特阿拉伯王国环境、水务与农业部副部长、联合国防治荒漠化公约第十六次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP16）主席奥萨马·法基哈阁下（H.E. Osama Faqeeha）表示：“去年12月在利雅得举行的UNCCD COP16吸引了约十万名与会者，其广泛而多样的参与标志着全球在认识土地退化和干旱的重大影响方面取得了历史性转折，也凸显了加强和加速应对这两大全球性挑战的迫切需求。这直接关系到全球水资源与粮食安全、生物多样性、气候韧性，以及全世界数十亿人的福祉。” UNCCD COP16取得了重要成果，为加强国际多边努力以推进土地恢复和干旱韧性做出了贡献。这包括通过《利雅得宣言》在公约框架下通过了30余项决议，以及根据《利雅得行动议程》宣布近40项倡议，以强化实地行动。 会议将开展专题讨论：以土地权属作为健康土地投资的基础；讨论日益加剧的沙尘暴威胁；并举办第二届性别核心小组会议，为深受土地退化和干旱影响的妇女提供发声平台，她们在支撑全球各地社区生计方面发挥着关键作用。 缔约方还将与其他关键利益相关方，包括青年、土著人民和当地社区进行互动，并发布关于小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）和牧场的新报告。 此外，CRIC23期间将启动三轮干旱韧性非正式自愿对话的第一轮。这一“Tafa’ul”进程由COP16主席团主导，灵感来源于阿拉伯语“ تَفَاؤُل（Tafa’ul）”，意指“建设性的乐观与满怀希望的决心”。CRIC23的建议将为196个缔约方及欧盟在UNCCD COP17前的决策提供参考，COP17将于2026年8月在蒙古乌兰巴托举行。 部长特别顾问兼COP17主席国办公室主任巴特蒙克·东多夫多尔吉先生（Mr. Batmunkh Dondovdorj）强调：从利雅得到乌兰巴托的道路必须成为长期被低估的社区和生态系统的希望之路。COP17的举办恰逢“国际牧场和牧民年（IYRP）”，这将为加速牧场保护议程提供独特的政治契机，这些牧场的消失速度甚至超过热带雨林。 他表示：“此次于巴拿马举行的会议对于奠定成功举办COP17的基础至关重要，这将凸显人类福祉与健康、高生产力且具有韧性的生态系统之间的联系。对于覆盖全球近一半土地面积，养育20亿人口的牧场来说更是如此。但牧场往往被视为空无一物、可随意牺牲的土地。对于蒙古这样一个历史、文化和经济深受牧业影响的国家而言，这并非抽象议题，而关乎着长期被忽视人群的尊严、身份与机会。” 巴拿马的“自然承诺” 今天，巴拿马在其“自然承诺”中强调了土地的核心地位。该承诺是一项路线图，统筹了国家层面在应对土地退化、生物多样性丧失与气候变化方面的努力，旨在利用三大《里约公约》之间的协同效应，更快推进互相关联目标的实现。 作为其“自然承诺”的一部分，巴拿马计划2035年之前恢复10万公顷的退化土地。 巴拿马环境部长胡安·卡洛斯·纳瓦罗阁下（H.E. Juan Carlos Navarro）表示：“自然是全球经济的支柱。巴拿马‘自然承诺’体现了我们恢复关键流域、保护森林、鼓励可持续农业实践的承诺，以增强我们经济和社区的韧性。巴拿马自然基金则确保在全国范围内开展长期的保护行动。时间紧迫：我们必须立即行动呵护自然，这样自然才会继续庇佑我们。” 自1996年加入联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）以来，巴拿马承诺到2030年实现土地退化零增长，确定31个关键生态区，推进植树造林及干旱走廊适应项目，彰显其作为CRIC23东道国的角色。今年，巴拿马成为首个在同一年主办三大《里约公约》会议的国家。 **完** 编辑须知  采访和查询请联系：press@unccd.int 关于 CRIC23 的视觉素材和 UNCCD 数据仪表盘请见： https://trello.com/b/zq0kxtkK/unccd-cric23-panama-2025 媒体机会 新闻发布会： 12：00–13：00 （巴拿马当地时间） 12月1日：开幕新闻发布会 本新闻发布会将介绍CRIC23的主要预期，强调巴拿马领导力，包括其“自然承诺”，并提供COP16及COP17主席团的观点。 讲者： 胡安·卡洛斯·纳瓦罗（Juan Carlos Navarro），巴拿马环境部部长 亚斯敏·福阿德（Yasmine Fouad），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）执行秘书 奥萨马·法基哈（Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha），沙特阿拉伯环境、水和农业部副部长 巴特蒙克·东多夫多尔吉（Batmunkh Dondovdorj），部长特别顾问兼COP17主席国办公室主任 12月2日：小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）报告发布 发布干旱与气候变化对小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）的影响及应对措施的最新简报。 讲者：  安德丽娅·梅萨（Andrea Meza），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）副执行秘书 卡尔文·詹姆斯（Calvin James），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD） 小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）论坛协调员 弗雷德·尼古拉斯（Fred Nicholas），库克群岛国家环境服务项目官 12月4日：牧场经济学报告发布 发布一份关于牧场的最新报告，牧场对粮食安全和气候稳定至关重要，但其正在迅速消失。 讲者：  马克·绍尔（Mark Schauer），德国国际合作机构（GIZ）项目负责人（联合负责人） 巴伦·奥尔博士（Dr. Barron Orr），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）首席科学家  恩里克·米肖（Enrique Michaud）， 国际牧场和牧民年（IYRP）全球联盟联合主席 阿连图雅·多尔久苏仁（Ariuntuya Dorjsuren），蒙古国家联络点，环境与气候变化部国际合作司司长 “国际牧场和牧民年”（IYRP）将于12月启动，这是2026 年 8 月蒙古举行COP17前的一个重要里程碑。 12月5日 – 闭幕新闻发布会 （世界土壤日） 在CRIC23闭幕全体会议后进行，恰逢世界土壤日。该新闻发布会将概述会议成果及其对UNCCD COP17前期筹备的重要意义。 12月3日 –媒体考察：  记者将受邀参加由巴拿马运河管理局（ACP）在米拉弗洛雷斯游客中心（Miraflores Visitors Center）组织的实地考察。此次考察将展示巴拿马运河管理局（ACP）如何将可持续发展和流域保护纳入其长期战略，以保障运河的水资源安全。 关于公约和 CRIC23 的更多信息和媒体更新，请访问 UNCCD 官网 https://www.unccd.int/cric23 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）是全球土地的共同愿景与声音。我们联合各国政府、科学家、政策制定者、私营部门和社区，共同推动全球行动，恢复和管理地球土地，以实现人类与地球的可持续发展。UNCCD 不仅仅是一份由197个缔约方签署的国际条约，更是减缓当今土地退化影响、推进未来土地治理的多边承诺，旨在为所有人公平和包容地提供食物、水、住所和经济机会。   关于CRIC23 来自196个国家及欧盟的代表将于2025年12月1日至5日在巴拿马会晤，审查各方在《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）框架下应对荒漠化、土地退化和干旱的努力。《联合国防治荒漠化公约》是三大《里约公约》之一，另两项为生物多样性公约和气候变化公约。UNCCD 履约审查委员会第二十三届会议（CRIC23）将汇集约500名来自政府、民间社会及学术界的与会者，共同评估实现公约目标的进展。 

As negotiators meet in Panama City for the 23rd session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23), they gather in a country that treats climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation as interlinked challenges. The new Panama’s Nature Pledge is set to bring the next-generation climate promise, updated biodiversity strategy and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) strategy into a single national framework, also covering oceans and plastics. It shows how one country can align all three Rio Conventions and unlock finance to accelerate action. That same logic has been at the heart of the LDN Target Setting Programme (LDN TSP) for almost a decade. Since 2016, the programme has helped 131 countries commit to voluntary LDN targets, with 124 reporting their baselines and targets through the UNCCD, and collectively aiming to restore close to 600 million hectares of degraded lands. Restoration work done in the field by a volunteer groupA global shift from pledges to plans LDN stems from a simple idea: the world’s productive land base should at least remain stable and grow where possible. In less than ten years, the LDN TSP has given governments a common language and toolkit to map where degradation is happening, agree on measurable, time bound targets and identify measures that fit national realities. LDN TSP 2.0: More ambitious, more bankable If the first eight years of LDN TSP were about enabling countries to set and validate LDN targets based on best- available data, the second phase of this programme (LDN TSP 2.0) is about making those targets sharper and more actionable. Eighteen countries from every region are refining their voluntary commitments to achieve land degradation neutrality so they are more specific, time-bound, quantitative, spatially explicit, gender responsive and tied to land-use planning following a COP15 mandate. These priorities were clearly reflected in a recent global knowledge exchange webinar on LDN TSP 2.0, where 100 representatives of countries and partner agencies reviewed progress to date ahead of CRIC23. Integrated land use planning inception workshop May 2025 South Africa Photo : © Dr. Ernest Daemane, South African National ParksIn Sri Lanka, for example, updated LDN work is being used to align land-use decisions with national climate and biodiversity strategies and to prioritize the most vulnerable landscapes for action. In Central Asia, countries are using LDN targets to connect land restoration with drought resilience and more sustainable management of rangelands and drylands. In Argentina, new LDN targets   seek to improve the sustainable management of their wetlands. This second phase also pushes governments to think like investors, by helping them identify priority landscapes, estimate costs and benefits and structure projects and programmes that can attract climate and development finance. Negotiations training for national focal points and a write-shop on development of large-scale investment programme for Pacific SIDS, Seoul, Korea 2023Why this matters for everyone, not just negotiators Up to 40 per cent of the planet’s land is already degraded, affecting billions of people.  When land is degraded, harvests decline, food becomes more expensive, rural livelihoods weaken and people are forced to move. LDN helps reverse this pattern by restoring land, strengthening ecosystems and generating economic benefits that far outweigh the initial investments. The Rio synergies dividend Panama’s reference to its Nature Pledge during CRIC23 reinforces a clear message: climate, biodiversity and land are not three separate problems. Land is the common thread that allows us to materialize synergies. Country stories on the new Rio Conventions platform show how land restoration is becoming a practical link between climate, biodiversity and land agendas. Examples range from national work in Sri Lanka to regional initiatives in Central Asia, where managing land degradation is central to climate resilience and food security. In Uzbekistan, hectares of sturdy saxaul shrubs are planted as the first line of defense against desertification and sand and dust storms originating from the dried-up Aral seabedNigeria is updating its land targets in parallel with its National Net Zero Nature Positive plan (NZNP) ensuring that both processes reinforce each other.  By aligning these efforts, countries can stretch limited public finance further and create stronger cases for private investment. From targets to transformative projects Ambitious targets need equally ambitious implementation plans. That is where Land Degradation Neutrality Transformative Projects and Programmes (LDN TPPs) come in. These are large-scale, country driven programmes that bundle individual projects into coherent packages aligned with national LDN priorities.  Under the second phase of the programme, participating countries are defining TPPs through the Global Mechanism’s Partnership for Project Preparation to turn revised targets into concrete funding proposals. In Benin and the Central African Republic, work supported by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory is helping to define priority landscapes, integrate gender analysis and structure programmes  for submission to climate and development funds. In Argentina, two strategic projects are being developed to strengthen integrated land-use planning and create synergies between the country’s updated land targets and its wetlands conservation goals under RAMSAR. At CRIC23 in Panama, the new phase of the LDN work is moving from technical workshops into the political spotlight. The Global Mechanism is presenting progress on revised targets, new tools and emerging project pipelines in plenary, while land degradation neutrality features throughout the week’s programme, from interactive discussions on resource mobilization to country-led side events. Landscape view of lush, green hills and farmland in Jimma, Ethiopia, highlighting the positive impact of sustainable agriculture and land restorationTracking progress – and the remaining gap Transparent data is essential to convince citizens, partners and investors that LDN commitments are a sound investment. Key UNCCD knowledge tools – notably the LDN targets tracking tool and the UNCCD Data Dashboard – allow users to see how much land is degrading or being restored and to follow progress towards voluntary LDN targets. New tools are also being developed to support the integration of LDN as a guiding principle for smarter and better-informed land use planning decisions that avoid future land degradation. “A decade of LDN target setting has proved that restoring land is not a luxury, it is basic infrastructure for our economies,” says Louise Baker, Managing Director of the UNCCD Global Mechanism. “If we invest now in LDN TSP 2.0, we are not just planting trees, we are stabilizing food systems, protecting biodiversity and creating new jobs where they are needed most.” In Panama this integrated vision becomes the highlight of the side event “Restoring Land, Building Sustainable Futures: Success Stories from the Changwon Initiative,” hosted by the Republic of Korea. It gives participants a front-row insight into how the Changwon Initiative has supported the development of the LDN Target Setting Programme and its second phase, strengthened science–policy linkages through the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface and invested in capacity building that helps countries move from pilot projects to nationwide implementation. Success stories – from local pilot sites to national-scale programmes – demonstrate how long-term, strategic donor engagement is enabling countries to translate land targets into concrete action on the ground. As Barron Orr, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD, put it: “Land Degradation Neutrality is about doing the right things in the right places at the right scale. The scientific guidance produced by the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface has helped countries pursue all of their economic, social and environmental objectives in an inclusive and integrated way — so that biodiversity is protected where it is highest, food is grown where soils are most productive and new development does not harm either. This approach places a strong foundation of healthy land underneath global efforts to achieve all the SDGs.” Amina, leader of a women’s collective in Jimma, Ethiopia, proudly standing in front of her community members engaged in agroforestry and land restoration activitiesWith the right support from development banks, climate and biodiversity funds, impact investors and philanthropy, LDN TSP 2.0 can enable countries to turn degraded hectares into thriving landscapes and resilient communities.  As countries gear up for next year’s UNCCD COP17 that will mark ten years of this global effort, the focus shifts from targets agreed to real results delivered on the ground.   

How Communities of Learning and Practice are speeding action in the face of a new drought era

UNCCD CRIC23 Opens in Panama: Countries Review Global Progress on Land Restoration and Drought Resilience Media representatives are invited to the opening day of the 23rd session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC23), held from 1–5 December 2025 at the Panama Convention Center. CRIC23 brings together representatives from 196 countries and the European Union to assess global progress on land restoration, drought resilience, land tenure, reporting systems, capacity-building and gender equality, and to inform the post-2030 strategic framework ahead of the 17th UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP17), taking place in Mongolia from 17 to 26 August 2026. Panama will also highlight its Panama Nature Pledge, already introduced in national processes, which outlines the country’s commitment to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030, restoring priority hotspots and strengthening drought resilience across the Dry Corridor. KEY EVENTS  Opening Plenary When: 10:00–13:00 Where: Plenary Hall The opening plenary will outline the goals of CRIC23, including the review of reporting improvements, progress on thematic frameworks (land tenure, gender, sand and dust storms), and a presentation by Panama on its Panama Nature Pledge, which has already been introduced in national processes. Photographers: assemble at 09:15 at the Media Center.  Opening Press Conference When: 12:00–13:00 Where: Press Conference Room Speakers: Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment of Panama Yasmine Fouad, UNCCD Executive Secretary Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs. KSABatmunkh Dondovdorj, Special Advisor to the Minister and Chairman of upcoming COP17 Presidency National Office The press conference will present the key expectations for CRIC23, highlight Panama’s leadership — including a reference to its Nature Pledge — and provide reflections from the UNCCD COP16 and COP17 Presidencies. Media Accreditation Accredited journalists may access all open press events. Accreditation can be completed at the venue’s Media Registration Desk during opening hours.  Side events organized by partners take place throughout the day. Full schedule: https://www.unccd.int/cric23/side-events 

This week at COP30 in Belém, Brazil – birthplace of the three Rio Conventions – land, climate and nature took center stage as governments and partners looked at how action on all three can move forward together for stronger impact and lasting results. A lineup of high-level events on ecosystem restoration, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture confirmed UNCCD as a key player in advancing Rio synergies, placing land at the cornerstone of humanity’s response to the triple planetary crisis. Synergies in the spotlight Participants stressed that climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are not separate challenges, but different symptoms of a single planetary crisis that needs to be tackled in an integrated way. By linking their mandates, the Rio Conventions aim to turn shared challenges into new opportunities and deliver solutions that benefit people, economies and ecosystems alike. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized this shared direction, noting: “Climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are one interconnected crisis – and integrated action delivers the fastest, most durable results. New national climate and adaptation plans reflect this. They include biodiversity, ecosystems and nature-based solutions. Throughout this COP, the message has been clear: the Paris Agreement is working – but we must make it work faster, fairer, and at far greater scale.” UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza, CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the COP30 venueThe Rio Conventions Presidencies, Parties and partners underlined how more coherent land and sea use planning, better aligned finance and shared monitoring systems can reduce duplication and increase impact on the ground. A joint statement by the Rio Convention Presidencies issued at Belém marks a key moment in aligning Rio Presidency initiatives on land restoration, sustainable resource management and ecosystem resilience. Land at the center At the high-level roundtable “Bridging Action Agenda from COP16 to COP30: Strengthening synergies across land, climate and nature”, the UNCCD COP16 and COP17 Presidencies warned that efforts to address climate change and biodiversity loss will fall short if land continues to be treated in isolation. The UNCCD COP16 Presidency highlighted the Riyadh Action Agenda as a practical attempt to bring land, the ocean and the atmosphere together in national planning and finance. Looking ahead to UNCCD COP17, Mongolia underscored that pathways to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are indivisible and must be embedded in national policies and plans. From Rio to Belém At the joint Rio Conventions’ side event “From Rio to Belém: Synergistic action for ecosystem restoration and climate resilience”, COP Presidencies, government, private sector and civil society leaders illustrated how this agenda is being translated into practice. UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza stressed that this is not about choosing between individual priorities, noting: “We are talking about a new development pathway that could operate within the planetary boundaries, and generating a model that can guarantee that we live in a prosperous society while at the same time protecting our most valuable asset — the living Earth.” UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea MezaReflecting on the outcomes of COP30, CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker highlighted the joint resolve of the three conventions, noting: “At COP30 the Presidencies and Secretariats of the Rio Conventions joined forces to promote integrated action on climate, biodiversity and land. Synergies are the only way forward. The world needs to take bold steps for progress across the Rio Conventions’ interlinked objectives.” Finance for farmland Finance for land-based action was another prominent theme. COP30 saw the ministerial launch of the Resilient Agriculture Investment for net-Zero land degradation (RAIZ) accelerator, a Brazil-led initiative to mobilize public and private finance for restoring degraded farmland at scale. With over one billion hectares of farmland degraded worldwide, speakers stressed the urgency of investing in soil health, productivity and resilience. RAIZ offers a pathway to align climate action, food security and biodiversity protection, with countries in the lead and finance flowing to where it matters most. Building on Brazil’s experience in blending public and private capital for restoration through initiatives such as Green Way and EcoInvest, the accelerator will support governments to map degraded landscapes, identify investable solutions and design co-investment vehicles that de risk private finance and lower the cost of capital for farmers and rural communities. Hindou Oumaru Ibrahim, President and Coordinator, Association of Indigenous Women and Peoples of ChadSynergies from the ground up Peer learning on concrete national approaches to linking NDC targets on land degradation and desertification was the focus of an event organized by Türkiye in the margins of COP30. Brazil shared a three- pillar approach of aligning planning tools across sectors, mobilizing integrated financing and advancing nature based solutions with strong community involvement, while Panama shared plans to streamline work under multiple conventions through joint reporting mechanisms and its Nature Pledge – a roadmap that unifies national efforts to tackle land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.  Azerbaijan emphasized science based, integrated work on water management, forest restoration and land rehabilitation, Colombia showed how outcomes from the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are being implemented through community-driven projects that advance biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable land use together and Mongolia presented priorities on desertification, land degradation, water–land interactions and nature based infrastructural solutions. Dialogues at Belém also brought to the forefront the importance of human rights-based approaches, Indigenous Peoples’ leadership and inclusive engagement with vulnerable communities, civil society and the private sector in maximizing synergies among multilateral environmental agreements. H.E .Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of the Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, COP16 PresidencyNext stops on the journey The COP30 outcomes help anchor land at the heart of the Rio Conventions’ action agendas. The next stop will be UNCCD CRIC23 in Panama this December, where Parties will review progress on land-based solutions ahead of UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in 2026. 2026 will be the next “Triple COP” year, and an opportunity for all three Rio conventions to align national commitments, showcase joint solutions and build the political momentum needed to turn Rio synergies into coordinated action on the ground. We invite you to visit rioconventions.org to learn more about current initiatives, integrated approaches and case studies on land, climate and nature synergies.