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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 14 December — After two weeks of intense negotiations on how to tackle land degradation, desertification and drought, the largest and most inclusive United Nations land conference wrapped up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The nearly 200 countries convening at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) committed to prioritize land restoration and drought resilience in national policies and international cooperation as an essential strategy for food security and climate adaptation. Nations also made significant progress in laying the groundwork for  a future global drought regime, which they intend to complete at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026. In the meanwhile, more than USD 12 billion were pledged to tackle desertification, land degradation and drought around the world, especially in the most vulnerable countries.Among the main agreements reached at COP16 were the creation of a Caucus for Indigenous Peoples and a Caucus for Local Communities to ensure that their unique perspectives and challenges are adequately represented; a continuation of the Convention’s Science-Policy Interface to strengthen science-based decision-making, and the mobilization of private sector engagement under the Business4Land initiative.COP16 was the largest and most inclusive UNCCD COP to date: it attracted more than 20,000 participants, around 3,500 of them from civil society, and featured more than 600 events as part of the first Action Agenda to involve non-state actors in the work of the Convention.In a prepared statement, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed emphasized “Our work does not end with the closing of COP16. We must continue to tackle the climate crisis—it is a call to action for all of us to embrace inclusivity, innovation, and resilience. Youth and Indigenous peoples must be at the heart of these conversations. Their wisdom, their voices, and their creativity are indispensable as we craft a sustainable future with renewed hope for generations to come.”In his closing remarks, COP16 President, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, said the meeting marked a turning point in raising international awareness of the pressing need to accelerate land restoration and drought resilience.“The Kingdom’s hosting of this important conference reflects its ongoing commitment to environmental issues and sustainable development. It reaffirms its dedication to working with all parties to preserve ecosystems, enhance international cooperation to combat desertification and land degradation, and address drought. We hope the outcomes of this session will lead to a significant shift that strengthens efforts to preserve land, reduce its degradation, build capacities to address drought, and contribute to the wellbeing of communities around the world.”Addressing COP16 closing plenary, Under-Secretary-General and UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw stated: “As we have discussed and witnessed, the solutions are within our grasp. The actions we took today will shape not only the future of our planet but also the lives, livelihoods, and opportunities of those who depend on it.”He further emphasized a significant shift in the global approach to land and drought issues, highlighting the interconnected challenges with broader global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, forced migration, and global stability.Financial needs and pledgesDuring the Conference, participants heard that UNCCD estimates that at least USD 2.6 trillion in total investments are needed by 2030 to restore more than one billion hectares of degraded land and build resilience to drought. This equals USD 1 billion in daily investments between now and 2030 to meet global land restoration targets and combat desertification and drought.New pledges for large-scale land restoration and drought preparedness were announced, such as the  Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership which attracted USD 12.15 billion to support 80 of the world’s most vulnerable countries in building their resilience to drought, including a USD 10 billion pledge from the Arab Coordination Group.The Great Green Wall (GGW), an African-led initiative to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, also mobilized EUR 11 million from the Italian Government for landscape restoration in the Sahel and EUR 3.6 million from the Austrian Government to strengthen the coordination and implementation of the initiative across 22 African countries. The drive is part of the GGW Accelerator, a UNCCD-supported effort to achieve the ambitions for a greener, more prosperous Sahel.Additionally, the United States and several partner countries and organizations announced total investments of nearly USD 70 million to advance the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS). The initiative looks to build resilient food systems grounded in diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops grown in healthy soils.The first-ever UNCCD COP in the Middle East and North Africa provided an opportunity to shine a light on the specific challenges facing the region and bring to the fore innovative solutions to land degradation and drought.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced five new projects valued at USD 60 million to ramp up climate and environmental efforts as part of the Saudi Green Initiative. The UNCCD COP16 Presidency also announced the launch of an international sand and dust storm monitoring initiative. This effort, part of a regional early warning system, aims to complement existing efforts overseen by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).The International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO), the first global AI-driven platform to help countries assess, and enhance, their capacity to cope with harsher droughts. This innovative tool is an initiative of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), which Saudi Arabia joined earlier this year. Greater voice for Indigenous Peoples and other non-state actorsIn a landmark decision, Parties requested the creation of a Caucus for Indigenous Peoples and a Caucus for Local Communities. The objective is to ensure that their unique perspectives and priorities are adequately represented in the work of the Convention. The declaration ‘Sacred Lands’, presented during the inaugural Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at a UNCCD COP, underscored the role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable resource management and called for greater involvement in global land and drought governance, including through participation in land restoration efforts.“Today, history has been made”, said Indigenous People representative Oliver Tester from Australia. “We look forward to championing our commitment to protect Mother Earth through a dedicated Caucus, and leave this space trusting that our voices be heard.”COP16 also saw the biggest youth participation to date, building on the UNCCD Youth Engagement Strategy and Action Plan, that seeks to give youth a more prominent role in land and drought negotiations and  action, and provide technical and financial support for youth-led initiatives.On the gender front, countries underscored the need to pay special attention to all forms of discrimination faced by women and girls when designing and implementing policy and programmes related to land degradation and drought.In recognition of the important role of the  private sector, which currently contributes only 6% of financing towards land restoration and drought resilience, Parties have mandated the UNCCD Secretariat and the Global Mechanism to mobilize private sector engagement under the Business4Land initiative. The decision emphasizes the critical role of private sector advocacy, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, and sustainable finance in addressing DLDD challenges. The decision comes after the Business4Land Forum, which brought together the largest-ever number of private sector participants at a UNCCD COP — more than 400— from industries like finance, fashion, agri-food, and pharmaceuticals.Stronger science on land and droughtAcknowledging the role of science as the foundation for sound policies, the Parties agreed on the continuation of UNCCD’s Science-Policy Interface (SPI), which was created at COP11 in 2013 to translate scientific findings into recommendations for decision-makers. At COP16, for instance, the SPI presented definitive evidence that three quarters of the Earth’s ice-free surface have become permanently drier in the past 30 years, with a predicted five billion people living in drylands by 2100, showing the urgency to take action.A new UNCCD report, The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections, revealed that some 77.6% of Earth’s land has experienced drier conditions since the 1990s compared to the previous 30-year period. Over the same period, drylands — an arid area with low rainfall— expanded by about 4.3 million km2 equal to an area nearly a third larger than India, the world’s 7th largest country. Drylands now cover 40.6% of all land on Earth excluding Antarctica.Seven of nine planetary boundaries are negatively impacted by unsustainable land use, highlighted the UNCCD report Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land management to stay within planetary boundaries, produced in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, which explains how land degradation is undermining Earth’s capacity to sustain a growing human population. The report reiterates that agriculture accounts for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, 80% of deforestation, and 70% of freshwater use, and calls for an urgent land use transition to step away from the precipice.According to UNCCD’s newly released World Drought Atlas and Economics of Drought Resilience reports, droughts affect the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people worldwide, pushing already vulnerable communities to the brink. They also cost an estimated USD 300 billion per year, threatening key economic sectors such as agriculture, energy and water.From Riyadh to MongoliaFor the first time, UNCCD Parties made a decision encouraging the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands — vast ecosystems used for grazing — ahead of COP17, to be hosted by Mongolia in 2026 during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. These ecosystems cover half of the Earth’s terrestrial surface and are the dominant land use in the world’s drylands, but have long been overlooked and are disappearing faster than rainforests.The degradation of rangelands threatens one-sixth of global food supplies, potentially depleting one-third of the Earth's carbon reserves. Some two billion people who live in pastoral areas are among the world’s most vulnerable in the face of desertification, land degradation and drought.ENDNOTESMedia inquiries:For media enquiries, please contact the UNCCD Press Office at press@unccd.int or unccd@portland-communications.comCOP16 decisions are available here: https://www.unccd.int/cop16/official-documentsAbout UNCCDThe United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 Parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. 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 COP16The Conference of the Parties (COP) was established by the Convention as its main decision-making body. It is made up of UNCCD’s 197 Parties (196 countries and the European Union) and is responsible for guiding the Convention so that it can respond to global challenges and national needs.  UNCCD COP16 will be a landmark event to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience through a people-centred approach. Coinciding with the Convention’s 30th anniversary, UNCCD COP16 was the first major UN conference hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was also the first time a UNCCD COP was held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which knows firsthand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear friends,As we close this historic COP16, I am filled with immense gratitude and deep reflection. This COP is not just the conclusion of a meeting; for me, it is the conclusion of a deeply personal journey.Allow me to transport you to the arid landscapes of my childhood for a moment, where drought was not just an occasional episode, but a constant challenge woven into the daily lives of our communities. I remember the resilience of women striving to make the land yield against all odds, the ingenuity of farmers working with nature to survive, and the deep connection we had with our environment. It is from these experiences of resilience that my deep-seated conviction for land restoration emerged; a belief that has guided me throughout my professional life.My work with you has been shaped by this bridge between personal conviction and a professional pledge; between local interventions in my home community and global impact.  Mr. President, Allow me to first extend my heartfelt thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership as well as its people for its exceptional clairvoyance in hosting this COP.  Thank you for the unwavering commitment to elevating the global land restoration and drought resilience agenda. COP16 has been a COP like no other in the 30 years life of the UNCCD. By far the largest, the most inclusive and the most complex Conference. And I would add the most beautiful and efficient facility. First, we have elevated the land and drought agenda beyond sector-specific discussions, establishing it as a cornerstone of global efforts to address interconnected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, migration, and global security. While Parties need more time to agree on the best way forward as to how to address the critical issue of drought, I am filled with hope with the launching of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership; a landmark initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time.We all welcome the pledges made in that regard by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ten members the Arab Coordination Group, amounting to USD 12.15 billion.We also leave COP16 with a robust Ministerial Political Declaration. It is a powerful testament to our shared ambition and determination, aligned with the United Nations' pillars and advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The 39 important decisions that were adopted by this COP will serve as a guidance not only to all Governments in the world, but also to the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities. Second, this COP has precisely been about People. Farmers, pastoralists, Indigenous peoples, women, and youth are at the heart of our efforts to create a more equitable and resilient future. Their voices have guided our work and inspired our collective action.Third, Women’s rights and secure land tenure have been firmly recognized as central pillars of our work, ensuring that those most impacted by land degradation and drought are further associated with our decision-making processes. To the Parties, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve and work alongside you over the past six years. Your commitment to addressing desertification, land degradation, and drought issues has given the space and the authorizing environment to operate.To the entire UNCCD team, who worked tirelessly to deliver this COP: thank you for your extraordinary professionalism, passion, and belief in the mission of UNCCD. Delivering this COP was nothing short of a moonshot—a bold and ambitious effort that required exceptional dedication and teamwork.Witnessing your determination, creativity, and commitment throughout this journey has been profoundly inspiring. Your contributions have shaped me and this moment. Their impact will resonate far beyond the perimeter of this COP, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the invisible hands --who, to me, are very visible— including our incredible volunteers, those working tirelessly in the pavilions, across this incredible site. My deep appreciation to our UN Security Officers, to our interpreters, logisticians, editors and translators, and to all service providers who allow us to operate so efficiently. Mr. President, As I conclude, my thoughts go to the most vulnerable communities. I believe that this COP was not just another UN meeting; it was a call to action. It was a space where discussions and policies laid the groundwork for real, tangible change. But the true measure of our success will not be defined by what we agreed here; but rather by what we did with it.As we leave this COP, the real work begins. With political will, the solutions are within our grasp. The actions we took today will shape not only the future of our planet but also the lives, livelihoods, and opportunities of those that we know: land is the only asset there is. Mr. President,Excellency Minister Al Fadley: at the risk of offending your modesty, allow me to express, from the bottom of my heart, my personal appreciation to you. You never failed to listen attentively and to respond to my multiple requests and those of my colleagues. I would also like to thank your team for the excellent collaboration and the strong bonds we have built up with them. Starting with Dr Osama, who spared no effort to ensure the success of this COP. And to all the Saudi teams, who have shown us that united and determined, we can move mountains. I could not be more humbled by what we have achieved together. Thank you!

UNCCD COP16 Finance Day: Mobilizing Investment in Land RestorationJournalists  are invited to attend Day 10 of UNCCD COP16, which spotlights the need to address the gaps in finance for land restoration, drought resilience, and combating degradation and desertification. On Finance Day, ministries, donor agencies and investment funds from both the public and private sector are called to seek for new ways to mobilize investment in sustainable land management.Key EventsRestor and G20 Global Land Initiative Announce the RestorLife Awards to Celebrate Restoration ChampionsWhen: 18:00 -18:30Where: Blue Zone Restoration PavillionRestor and the G20 Global Land Initiative Coordination Office of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have partnered to host an awards competition called RestorLife Awards. Starting this year, the awards will be hosted on the Restor platform, the largest network of community-led restoration and conservation efforts across the globe, the RestorLife Awards recognize and support outstanding achievements of nature stewards in their nature restoration journey that contribute to a fair and sustainable future for all. Register here: bit.ly/3AAd4rmOther Press EventsMedia Briefing on the Great Green Wall Investments Signed at COP-16When: 12:00-12:45Where: MET-17Speakers:Gilles Amadou Ouedraogo, Program Officer, Global Mechanism of the UNCCDCathrine Mutambirwa, Programme Coordinator LDN and Land Restoration at Global Mechanism of the UNCCDExperts will deep dive into the following investments signed here at COP16 for various Great Green Wall projects as well as the "Creating Lands of Opportunities: Transforming Livelihoods through Landscape Restoration in the Sahel (LOGMe)" project and the “Strengthening Coordination and Implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative” project.Media AccreditationAll journalists must be accredited to attend. Accreditation can be completed through the Online Registration System (ORS). Additional information, including the full agenda and session details, is available on the COP16 website.For inquiries, contact press@unccd.intKey resources Press releases and other media materials from COP16 updated daily  hereUNCCD COP16 Trello Board, including branding guidelines and key messagesUNCCD COP16 websiteHost country website COP16 conference app available in the Apple app store and Google PlayUN WebTV – live broadcast of key plenary sessions with live interpretation in all six UN languages.Press and media kitSocial media kitPhoto assets – Flickr and Earth Negotiation BulletinPress Conference ScheduleUNCCD TerminologyThe Arab Fund Launches Water Observatory to Advance Investments in Regional Water Security at COP16Future Key COP16 Events for Media Closing Press Conference (12 December, 15:00)

Sand and dust storms (SDS) are a normal part of the global environment. Like flooding, SDS provide a range of benefits as well as having the potential for triggering damages. Human action can increase the frequency or severity of SDS, causing unnecessary and avoidable harm to society, the economy and the environment. Recognizing that the risks and harm done by SDS can be mitigated or even prevented, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has been actively involved in improving capacities to manage this hazard. In 2022, the UNCCD, in collaboration with WMO, FAO and the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) developed the SDS Toolbox to support stakeholders in accessing information to better manage the risks posed by SDS. The SDS Toolbox built upon the SDS Compendium, a collaborative effort among multiple UN partners, to provide practical guidance on how to use the contents of the SDS Compendium and other technical resources to more effectively manage SDS. Over the last two years, there has been a notable expansion of knowledge and lessons learned on how to effectively manage SDS sources and impacts. This Technical Update of the SDS Toolbox, released during Resilience Day at UNCCD COP16, includes the following upgrades: Links to networks of experts working to understand and manage SDS, intended to improve knowledge sharing and collaboration. Access to the WMO Airborne Dust Bulletins. New case studies on SDS source management in Canada (Saskatchewan), Iceland and the United States (California and New Mexico). Detailed guidance on the use of the SDS Visualization Tool. An update on the WMO SDS-WAS monitoring and warning system. Access to public information documents about SDS.Additional examples of SDS impact management plans. An upgrade and expansion of guidance on managing SDS Sources. This includes an increase in the number of SDS source management options, accompanied by additional sustainable land use technologies. There are new search functions with more detailed descriptions for each option, including links to additional resources, providing a single source of SDS management options not previously assembled in one place. This technical upgrade of the SDS Toolbox involved experts from FAO, WMO, US Department of Agriculture, ICARDA, WOCAT, University of Saskatchewan, George Mason University, New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, California, USA.

Resilience Day at UNCCD COP16:  Strengthening Ecosystems and Societies Against Threats to LandMembers of the press are invited to Day 9 of UNCCD COP16, which focuses on building resilience against global challenges to land such as desertification, water scarcity and degradation through proactive approaches such as early warning systems and nature-based solutions. The day’s activities are on scaling up land restoration, strengthening early warning systems, and promoting water security and drought preparedness.Key EventsOpening Session: Resilience to address the challenges of land degradation, desertification, drought and water scarcityWhen: 09:00-10:00Where: MET-33This session will set the stage of the day and will bring high level speakers to discuss – what is needed to scale up resilience globally and increase action to combat land desertification, ecosystems degradation, drought and water scarcity.International Drought Resilience Observatory Expert ExchangeWhen: 13:30-14:30Where: MET-24Closing Event: Connecting DLDD, SDS and water scarcity with Integrated Land SolutionsWhen: 17:30-18:30Where: MET-33Resilience Day showcased a range of interdisciplinary and integrated actions and solutions that can be scaled up to enhance the resilience of communities, countries, and regions across the globe. It argued for an inclusive and transformative approach that promotes land restoration and nature-based solutions, long-term investment and contingency planning, risk and impact assessment, early warning systems, evidence and research for replication, capacity strengthening for scale, policy upgrades, risk financing (e.g., insurance), and a bottom-up/people-ecosystems- centered approach capable of facilitating resilience.Other Press EventsVoice of Civil Society Organizations Press Conference: CSOs at the heart of the fight against desertificationWhen: 11:00-11:30Where: MET-17This event will focus on topics relevant to civil society organizations (CSOs), with discussions on the intersection of land restoration, policy action, and civil society contributions.Media AccreditationAll journalists must be accredited to attend. Accreditation can be completed through the Online Registration System (ORS). Additional information, including the full agenda and session details, is available on the COP16 website.For inquiries, contact press@unccd.intKey resources Press releases and other media materials from COP16 updated daily  hereUNCCD COP16 Trello Board, including branding guidelines and key messagesUNCCD COP16 websiteHost country website COP16 conference app available in the Apple app store and Google PlayUN WebTV – live broadcast of key plenary sessions with live interpretation in all six UN languages.Press and media kitSocial media kitPhoto assets – Flickr and Earth Negotiation Bulletin Press Conference ScheduleUNCCD Terminology