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Negotiations on a future global drought regime get underway at UNCCD COP16US$ 2.15 billion pledged for the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience PartnershipWorld Drought Atlas highlights global drought impacts and resilience solutionsInternational Drought Resilience Observatory will provide first global, AI-driven data platform to assess drought resilience globallyRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, 3 December 2024 — Negotiations on a global drought regime are set to dominate the 16thConference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) as 197 Parties gather to address one of the world’s deadliest and costliest disasters. The conference opened on Monday, 2 December with major political and financial commitments to strengthen drought resilience worldwide. Drought, intensified by climate change and unsustainable land practices, has surged by nearly 30 per cent in frequency and intensity since 2000, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people, with the poorest nations bearing the brunt.In his opening remarks, Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, said: “We are all gathered here to make COP16 a historic moment. The world expects Parties to adopt a bold decision that can help turn the tide on the most pervasive and the most disruptive environmental disaster: drought.” In a video message to delegates at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed emphasized the growing challenges posed by land degradation and drought: “Never before have so many people been affected by land degradation and drought. 40 per cent of fertile land is now degraded. And the results are dire: rising inequalities, people hungry, people displaced. Livelihoods and businesses threatened, environments destroyed, and the foundation of peace, stability and security rocked. On the basis of current trends, by 2050, three in four people, will be affected by drought worldwide. But you are in Riyadh to turn the tide.”  Newly elected COP16 President Abdulrahman Alfadley, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, echoed these concerns, noting that degraded land already affects three billion people globally and will “increase levels of migration, stability, and insecurity among many communities.”COP16 will focus on establishing the first global regime for drought resilience, addressing the systemic risks of drought highlighted in multiple articles of the UNCCD and decisions from the past seven COPs.  Governments are expected to negotiate commitments to enhance resilience at all levels, building on recommendations from the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought established at COP15.Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership Secures $2.15 Billion in CommitmentsThe Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, announced today by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as UNCCD COP16 host, will leverage public and private finance to support 80 of the most vulnerable and drought-hit countries around the world. An initial US $2.15 billion have been pledged towards the Riyadh Partnership by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (US$150 million), the Islamic Development Bank (US$1 billion) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (US$1 billion).  The Arab Coordination Group, which encompasses 10 institutions headquartered in five countries, is expected announce its pledge on day two of COP16.“The Riyadh Drought Resilience Partnership will serve as a global facilitator for drought resilience, promoting the shift from reactive relief response to proactive preparedness. We also seek to amplify global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world,” said Dr Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudia Arabia and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency. The Partnership will work to source additional funding through voluntary contributions by countries, financial institutions, and philanthropic organizations, among others. The financial and in-kind contributions help least developed countries (LDCs) and lower middle-income countries to unlock access to additional financing through blended financing such as concessional loans, commercial loans, equity participation, savings, insurance and other financial schemes.State Secretary of Environment of Spain Hugo Morán, said: “For Spain and Senegal, the co-chairs the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), promoting international cooperation is a key priority. We are working very hard to mobilize political momentum and resources for drought resilience all over the world. However, much remains to be done. This is why we welcome the Riyadh Partnership and its potential to mobilize additional resources for drought resilience with a focus on the least developed countries and the lower middle-income countries. We look forward to collaborating with Saudi Arabia and the UNCCD Secretariat to leverage synergies between IDRA and this new partnership.” Negotiations on drought underwayA major focus of COP16 will be negotiations on a future global regime on drought resilience, the first of its kind. Multiple articles of the Convention text refer to drought and the last seven UNCCD COPs also have decisions related to drought. The Drought Resilience + 10 Conference, held in Geneva from 30 September to 2 October 2024, concluded that “the increasingly systemic nature of drought requires new approaches, policy instruments and the operationalization of national drought plans along the lines of proactive and integrated drought management.”It is expected that the negotiations among governments, culminating at UNCCD COP16, will result in robust commitments to strengthen community, national and international resilience to anticipate, respond to and recover from the impacts of impending or ongoing droughts, building on the policy options presented by the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought established at COP 15.“After 30 years of deliberations, including six consecutive years of intergovernmental working groups, all eyes are on us. This is a lot of pressure, but we must seize this pivotal moment in Riyadh. Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation and build a more resilient world to drought,” said UNCCD’s Thiaw. World Drought Atlas and International Drought Resilience ObservatoryAmid escalating global drought crises, the UNCCD, in collaboration with the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) and partners, launched the World Drought Atlas, highlighting the systemic risks of drought across critical sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport and trade, using maps, infographics and case studies to showcase its cascading impacts on inequality, conflict and public health.  In addition, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) introduced the prototype International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO) — an AI-powered global platform designed to empower diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to communities, with actionable insights for building drought resilience. The full version of IDRO will debut at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in 2026, marking a shift towards proactive drought management worldwide. Anna Dyson, Founding Director of Yale Center for Ecosystems + Architecture, explained: “Although a wealth of knowledge is emerging on drought resilience globally, it tends to be scattered and difficult to access. The Observatory will enable quick access to diverse expertise and tools needed to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought challenges. Connecting insights with powerful analytics, it delivers timely, actionable information while addressing critical gaps in risk and adaptive strategies.Media inquiries:For media enquiries please contact the UNCCD Press Office at press@unccd.intAbout 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 COP16 The 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. It will coincide with the Convention’s 30th anniversary. UNCCD COP16 is the first major UN conference hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will also be the first time a UNCCD COP is held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which knows firsthand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought. About IDRAThe 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 70 countries and 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. For more information: https://idralliance.global.Photo: (c) IISD-ENB Anastasia Rodopoulou

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

Monsieur le Président de la Conférence des Parties, Altesses royales,Excellences,Distingués délégués,Mesdames et messieurs, Ahlan wa sahlan, wa marhaba en Arabie Saoudite.  Une terre où l’hospitalité et la générosité ne sont pas simplement des traditions, mais un mode de vie, profondément ancrées dans la société et la culture à travers l’histoire.À l’image du palmier dattier, qui s’élève contre vents et marées dans le désert, offrant ses fruits à ceux qui s’en approchent, les Saoudiens sont répuétés pour leur cœur ouvert et leur gentillesse inébranlable. Que dire du chameau, à l’honneur de cette Année internationale des camélidés, qui endure les conditions les plus extrêmes du désert, symbole par excellence de la résilience et de la persévérance? Ici, l’hospitalité perdure à travers les âges, accueillant les invités du monde entier avec chaleur et respect. L’acte d’offrir des dattes — avec du café arabe— est une façon de vous faire sentir chez vous, en partageant non seulement la nourriture, mais aussi un morceau de leur patrimoine et de leur fierté.Je sais que vous partagerez mon expérience et que vous sentirez chez vous pendant tout votre séjour en Arabie saoudite.Monsieur le Président,  Notre planète est rendue malade par la dégradation des terres. Près de 40% de son corps est déjà affecté. La maladie progresse à un rythme effrayant. Chaque année, des terres saines dont la superficie fait la taille de l’Égypte sont infestées.Alors que son immunité baisse, des virus opportunistes provoquent un cocktail épidémique inédit : sécheresses, tempêtes et poussières de sables, pénuries d’eau ; le tout exacerbé par le changement climatique et la perte de la biodiversité.Ce décor, aussi lugubre qu’il puisse paraître, pourrait cependant être perçu comme un verre à moitié plein, plutôt qu’à moitié vide. Nous disposons de vaccins et d'outils de traitement accessibles à un prix raisonnable. Mr President, This is not just the third and final COP under my tenure. It’s a pivotal moment. Over the  years, we have seen land restoration emerge as one of the most effective tools to address some of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change, food insecurity, economic inequality, forced migration and even global instability.Together, we have accomplished a lot. However, our work is far from finished.Indeed, scientific evidence is unambiguous: the way we manage our land today will directly determine the future of life on Earth.Land restoration is first and foremost about securing the foundation of our economy, security, and humanity.In this regard, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its vision and leadership in elevating the global land restoration and drought resilience agenda; whether through the G20, hosting this landmark COP and building its legacy, the Saudi Green Initiative, or, most recently, the Middle East Green Initiative.The UNCCD call to address desertification, land degradation, and drought is no longer a whisper—it is being recognized at the highest levels of global decision-making, signaling a global recognition of its transformative power.We have seen how the land and drought agendas have been at the core of important discussions not only at the UN General Assembly, but also at the G20, the G7, BRICS, the World Economic Forum, and the Arab Coordination Group, to name just a few.Major large-scale land restoration and drought initiatives, such as the Great Green Wall in Africa, the G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative, the International Drought Resilience Alliance have built their approaches on the foundations laid by UNCCD Parties. We are glad to note the powerful impacts of our COPs both in India (Initiative of PM Narendra Modi to restore 26 M ha) and in Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan Legacy Programme of President Alassane Ouattara, costed at 3 billion US dollars). We welcome and applaud the important Saudi-led Legacy of COP16, that will be unveiled shortly.These efforts have generated political momentum and a broader understanding that addressing land degradation goes beyond ‘ecology’; land restoration is primarily about nurturing humanity itself.And that is what COP16 is all about.I recall visiting the haunting expanse of the Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest freshwater lake, shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Standing there, where life once flourished, I saw a barren wasteland—an environmental disaster of unimaginable scale.It was a poignant reminder of what is at stake.Every second, somewhere in the world, we lose an equivalent of four football fields to land degradation.Land and soil loss are robbing poor families of nutritious food, and children of a safe future.Land degradation aggravates poverty, disrupts food security, impacts health, and even forces families to migrate.It is the land and soil beneath our feet that grows the cotton for the clothes we wear, secures the food on our plates, and anchors the economies we rely on.The cost of land degradation seeps in every corner of their lives. They see the rising price of groceries, in unexpected energy surcharges, and in the growing strain on their communities.I have spoken to farmers, mothers, and young people who are living this reality every day.Their resilience is inspiring, but their struggles remind us that land degradation and drought do not recognize borders.Power blackouts multiply as dams go dry due to drought.Nuclear plants in Europe have struggled to stay operational as rivers dry up.Global supply chains falter in the Panama Canal due to insufficient water; or in the Suez Canal when sand and dust storms make navigation difficult. By 2050, three in four people globally -up to seven and half billion people- will feel the impact of drought.The stories I have heard and the places I have seen make one thing clear: we must act now to restore our lands. They are the foundation of our everything.For the first time, through the UNCCD national reporting, we now have an evidence-based estimate of the alarming status and trends in land degradation.According to the UNCCD data, in the four years to 2019, healthy land the size of India and Nigeria combined was affected by Land Degradation.Agriculture, over-grazing, urbanization, mining, deforestation, and other factors are driving this decline, compounded by climate change.But a deeper injustice and inequalities exist: those who farm often do not own the land. Women only own 13% of agricultural land, for example. When they do own, its often a marginal land.Those who produce are often at the very bottom of global value chains and rarely benefit from them.Rural communities are being left behind, while the wealth created from their labor often fills someone else’s basket.So COP16 is our reliance on land. But it is also about resilience. COP 16 is specifically about drought resilience. Multiple articles of the Convention text refer to drought. The last seven COPs have had decisions related to drought. And COP16 will hopefully be remembered as the Conference where the most important decisions on drought were made.We are all gathered here to make COP16 a historic moment; the world expects Parties to adopt a bold decision that can help turn the tide on the most pervasive and the most disruptive environmental disaster.Drought is a slow onset, a silent killer.Drought wreaks havoc on nations’ economies.It provokes or amplifies massive wildfires.It disrupts food production and water security.Drought disrupts energy production, both hydro and nuclear, two low-carbon sources.Droughts have become more frequent, more intense and have expanded into new territories.No country is immune.No biome is spared, not even tropical or boreal forests.So, after 30 years of deliberations, including six consecutive years of intergovernmental working groups, all eyes are on us. This is a lot of pressure, but we must seize this pivotal moment.Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation and build a more resilient world to drought.Together we can make a real difference in peoples’ lives.Together, we can unlock the true potential of our land and protect our Planet/Home.Mr. President,Before I conclude, allow me to express UNCCD’s deep gratitude to the outgoing Presidency from Côte d’Ivoire for not only hosting us in Abidjan in 2022, but for successfully leading the COP Bureau for the last two and a half years.While negotiations at COP16 are led by governments, I want to pay tribute to members of civil society, other non-state actors, including business for their unprecedented contributions and participation.Allow me to also express my gratitude to the UN family. Thank you for your unwavering support. My gratitude go to all Executives of UN agencies and Treaties, to Intergovernmental Organizations, Academia, Financial institutions who have played a key role in helping design and run the Thematic Days of this COP.To all exhibitors in beautiful pavilions, to all who populated the most beautiful Green Zone I have ever seen, to all invisible hands who spent endless hours to make this Conference happen, I only have one word: Shukran!بالنسبة لبلدنا المضيف، المملكة العربية السعودية ملكاً وشعباً، فأرجو أن تتقبلوا منا التعبيرعن امتناننا. اسمحوا لي أن أكرر الشكر مرتين أو ثلاث مراتشكراً لكم على حسن ضيافتكم.وشكراً لكم على كرمكم.  وشكرا لكم جميعا على اهتمامكم الكريموسلام عليكم ورحمة الله

Land degradation undermining Earth’s capacity to sustain humanity; Failure to reverse it will pose challenges for generations;Seven of nine planetary boundaries are negatively impacted by unsustainable land use, highlighting land’s central role in Earth systems;Agriculture accounts for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, 80% of deforestation, 70% of freshwater use;Forest loss and impoverished soils drive hunger, migration and conflicts;Transformation of land use critical for humanity to thrive within environmental limitsRiyadh, Saudi Arabia – A major new scientific report charts an urgent course correction for how the world grows food and uses land in order to avoid irretrievably compromising Earth’s capacity to support human and environmental well-being.   Produced under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Johan Rockström at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in collaboration with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the report is launched as nearly 200 UNCCD member states begin their COP16 summit on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Land is the foundation of Earth’s stability, the report underlines. It regulates climate, preserves biodiversity, maintains freshwater systems and provides life-giving resources including food, water and raw materials.  The report, Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land management to stay within planetary boundaries, draws on roughly 350 information sources(*) to examine land degradation and opportunities to act from a planetary boundaries perspective.Deforestation, urbanization and unsustainable farming, however, are causing global land degradation at an unprecedented scale, threatening not only different Earth system components but human survival itself.Moreover, the deterioration of forests and soils undermines Earth’s capacity to cope with the climate and biodiversity crises, which in turn accelerate land degradation in a vicious, downward cycle of impacts.“If we fail to acknowledge the pivotal role of land and take appropriate action, the consequences will ripple through every aspect of life and extend well into the future, intensifying difficulties for future generations,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. Already today, land degradation disrupts food security, drives migration, and fuels conflicts.The global area impacted by land degradation – approx. 15 million km², more than the entire continent of Antarctica or nearly the size of Russia  – is expanding each year by about a million square km.Planetary boundariesThe report, available for download post-embargo at www.unccd.int and https://bit.ly/3V5SaY7, situates both problems and potential solutions related to land use within the scientific framework of the planetary boundaries, which has rapidly gained policy relevance since its unveiling 15 years ago. The planetary boundaries define nine critical thresholds essential for maintaining Earth’s stability. How humanity uses or abuses land directly impacts seven of these, including climate change, species loss and ecosystem viability, freshwater systems, and the circulation of naturally occurring elements nitrogen and phosphorus. Change in land use is also a planetary boundary.   Alarmingly, six boundaries have already been breached to date, and two more are close to their thresholds: ocean acidification and the concentration of aerosols in the atmosphere. Only stratospheric ozone – the object of a 1989 treaty to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals – is firmly within its “safe operating space”. “The aim of the planetary boundaries framework is to provide a measure for achieving human wellbeing within Earth’s ecological limits,” said Johan Rockström, lead author of the seminal study introducing the concept in 2009. “We stand at a precipice and must decide whether to step back and take transformative action, or continue on a path of irreversible environmental change,” he adds.The benchmark for land use, for example, is the extent of the world’s forests before significant human impact. Anything above 75% keeps us within safe bounds, but forest cover has already been reduced to only 60% of its original area, according to the most recent update of the planetary boundaries framework by Katherine Richardson and colleagues.Until recently, land ecosystems absorbed nearly one third of human-caused CO₂ pollution, even as those emissions increased by half.  Over the last decade, however, deforestation and climate change have reduced by 20% the capacity of trees and soil to absorb excess CO₂.Unsustainable agricultural practicesConventional agriculture is the leading culprit of land degradation, contributing to deforestation, soil erosion and pollution. Unsustainable irrigation practices deplete freshwater resources, while excessive use of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers destabilize ecosystems.Degraded soils lower crop yields and nutritional quality, directly impacting the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Secondary effects include greater dependency on chemical inputs and increased land conversion for farming.The infamous Dust Bowl of the 1930s resulted from large-scale land-use changes and inadequate soil conservation. Land degradation hotspots today stem from intensive agricultural production and high irrigation demands, particularly in dry regions such as South Asia, northern China, the US High Plains, California, and the Mediterranean.Meanwhile, climate change – which has long since breached its own planetary boundary – accelerates land degradation through extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, and intensified floods. Melting mountain glaciers and altered water cycles heighten vulnerabilities, especially in arid regions.Rapid urbanization intensifies these challenges, contributing to habitat destruction, pollution, and biodiversity loss.The impacts of land degradation hit tropical and low-income countries disproportionately, both because they have less resilience and because impacts are concentrated in tropical and arid regions. Women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and local communities also bear the brunt of environmental decline. Women face increased workloads and health risks, while children suffer from malnutrition and educational setbacks.Weak governance and corruption exacerbate these challenges. Corruption fosters illegal deforestation and resource exploitation, perpetuating cycles of degradation and inequality.According to the Prindex initiative, nearly one billion people lack secure land tenure, with the highest concentration in north Africa (28%), sub-Saharan Africa (26%), as well as South and Southeast Asia. The fear of losing one’s home or land undermines efforts to promote sustainable practices. Agricultural subsidies often incentivize harmful practices, fueling overuse of water and biogeochemical imbalances. Aligning these subsidies with sustainability goals is critical for effective land management.From 2013 to 2018, more than half-a-trillion dollars were spent on such subsidies across 88 countries, a report by FAO, UNDP and UNEP found in 2021.  Nearly 90% went to inefficient, unfair practices that harmed the environment, according to that report. Transformative actionTransformative action to combat land degradation is needed to ensure a return to the safe operating space for the land-based planetary boundaries. Just as the planetary boundaries are interconnected, so must be the actions to prevent or slow their transgression.Principles of fairness and justice are key when designing and implementing transformative actions to stop land degradation, ensuring that benefits and burdens are equitably distributed.Agriculture reform, soil protection, water resource management, digital solutions, sustainable or “green” supply chains, equitable land governance along with the protection and restoration of forests, grasslands, savannas and peatlands are crucial for halting and reversing land and soil degradation.Regenerative agriculture is primarily defined by its outcomes, including improved soil health, carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement. Agroecology emphasises holistic land management, including the integration of forestry, crops and livestock management. Woodland regeneration, no-till farming, nutrient management, improved grazing, water conservation and harvesting, efficient irrigation, intercropping, organic fertiliser, improved use of compost and biochar – can all enhance soil carbon and boost yields.Savannas are under severe threat from human-induced land degradation, yet are essential for ecological and human wellbeing. A major store of biodiversity and carbon, they cover 20% of the Earth’s land surface but are increasingly being lost to cropland expansion and misguided afforestation. The current rate of groundwater extraction exceeds replenishment in 47% of global aquifers, so more efficient irrigation is crucial to reduce agricultural freshwater use. Globally, the water sector must continue to shift from “grey” infrastructure (dams, reservoirs, channels, treatment plants) to “green” (reforestation, floodplain restoration, forest conservation or recharging aquifers).More efficient delivery of chemical fertilizer is likewise essential: currently, only 46% of nitrogen and 66% of phosphorus applied as fertilizer is taken up by crops. The rest runs off into freshwater bodies, and coastal areas with dire consequences for the environment.New technologiesNew technologies coupled with big data and artificial intelligence have made possible innovations such as precision farming, remote sensing and drones that detect and combat land degradation in real time. Benefits likewise accrue from the precise application of water, nutrients and pesticides, along with early pest and disease detection.Plantix, a free app available in 18 languages, can detect nearly 700 pests and diseases on more than 80 different crops. Improved solar cookstoves can provide households with additional income sources and improve livelihoods, while reducing reliance on forest resources.Regulatory action, stronger land governance, formalisation of land tenure and better corporate transparency on environmental impacts are all needed as well. Numerous multilateral agreements on land-system change exist but have largely failed to deliver. The Glasgow Declaration to halt deforestation and land degradation by 2030 was signed by 145 countries at the Glasgow climate summit in 2021, but deforestation has increased since then. Protecting intact peatlands and rewetting 60% of those already degraded could transform such ecosystems into a net sink, or sponge, of greenhouse gases by the end of the century. Currently, damaged peatlands account for 4% to 5% of global GHG emissions, according to the IUCN.(*) Complete references can be found in the report.By the numbers: Recent research highlights 7 out of 9: Planetary boundaries impacted by land use, underscoring its central role in Earth systems.60%: Remaining global forest cover—well below the safe boundary of 75%.15 million km²: Degraded land area, more than the size of Antarctica, expanding by 1 million km² annually.20%: Earth’s land surface covered by savannas, now under threat from cropland expansion and ill-conceived afforestation.46%: Global land area classified as drylands, home to a third of humanity; 75% of Africa is dryland.90%: Share of recent deforestation directly caused by agriculture—dominated by expanding cropland in Africa/Asia, livestock grazing in South America.80%: Agriculture’s contribution to global deforestation; 70% of freshwater use.23%: Greenhouse gas emissions stemming from agriculture, forestry, and land use.50% vs. 6%: Share of agricultural emissions from deforestation in lower-income vs. higher-income countries.46% / 66%: Fertilizer efficiency for nitrogen and phosphorus; the rest runs off with dire consequences.2,700+: National policies addressing nitrogen pollution while phosphorus is largely overlooked.10%: World’s arable land planted with genetically modified crops by 2018—dominated by soy (78%), cotton (76%), and maize (30%).11,700 years: Length of the Holocene period, during which Earth’s temperature varied within a narrow 0.5°C range—until a 1.3°C rise since the mid-19th century.1/3: Anthropogenic CO2 absorbed by land ecosystems annually.25%: Share of global biodiversity found in soil.20%: Decline in trees’ and soil’s CO2 absorption capacity since 2015 attributed to climate change.3%: Freshwater share of Earth’s water, mostly locked in ice caps and groundwater.50%+: World’s major rivers disrupted by dam construction.47%: Aquifers being depleted faster than they replenish.1 billion: People with insecure land rights, fearing loss of home or land (e.g., 28% in MENA, 26% in sub-Saharan Africa).1 in 5: People worldwide who paid bribes for land services in 2019—rising to 1 in 2 in sub-Saharan Africa.$500B+ (2013–2018): Agricultural subsidies across 88 countries, 90% of which fueled inefficient, harmful practices.$200B/year: Public and private finance for nature-based solutions, dwarfed by $7 trillion/year financing environmental harm145: nations that pledged in 2021 to halt deforestation by 2030; forest loss has since continued.* * * * *The full report Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land management to stay within planetary boundariesis available for media preview at https://bit.ly/3OmArry and publicly available post-embargo at www.unccd.intThe 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 13 December 2024. Theme: “Our Land, Our Future”  www.unccd.int/cop16The COP is the main decision-making body of UNCCD’s 197 Parties – 196 countries and the European Union. UNCCD, the global voice for land, is one of three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity, which recently concluded their COP meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan and Cali, Colombia respectively.Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, COP 16 will be the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa region, which knows first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought.COP 16 marks a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.COP16 opening press conference: Monday 2 Dec at 13:15 local time (10:15 GMT), Press Conference Room (MET-17), live streamed via UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/enUNCCD COP16 media kit and other resources: www.unccd.int/cop16/media-informationCOP 16 early news highlights include:Special Report on Land: Johan Rockström, Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) (2 Dec)Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership launch (2 December)International Drought Resilience Observatory launch (2 December)Global Drought Atlas launch (2 December)Report launch: Investing in Land’s Future: Assessing Financing Needs for Land Restoration and Drought Resilience (3 December)Ministerial dialogues: Policy instruments for proactive drought management (2 Dec)Unlocking public and private finance for land restoration and drought resilience (3 December), and  Impacts of land degradation and drought on forced migration, security and prosperity (3 December)Full COP 16 overview schedule, negotiation track, and action agenda: unccd.int/media/50289/openAccreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1005866/registrations/15631Media contacts: Fragkiska Megaloudi, +30 6945547877 (WhatsApp), fmegaloudi@unccd.int   Terry Collins, +1-416-878-8712, tc@tca.tcJuliane Otto, +49 331 288 2492, jotto@pik-potsdam.deAuthors and other experts are available for advance interviews.  The report in full is available for media preview at https://bit.ly/3OmArry

UNCCD COP16:Advancing global action on land restoration and drought resilienceJournalists are invited to attend Day 2 of COP16, where high-level dialogues, report launches and press events will focus on tackling the pressing challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought. The day will see the launch of key reports and ministerial dialogues on innovative financing solutions, nature-based strategies and collaborative approaches to ensure land resilience and improve livelihoods.Key EventsMinisterial Dialogue on Finance: “Unlocking public and private finance for land restoration and drought resilienceWhen:  10:00-13:00Where:  Main Committee RoomThe ministerial dialogue addresses the critical need for increased investments to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought, which cost the global economy 10 trillion USD annually. Public finance supports long-term restoration projects, while private finance introduces innovative tools like green bonds and impact investing.Ministerial Dialogue: Impacts of Land Degradation and Drought on Forced Migration, Security and ProsperityWhen:  14:00-16:30Where:  MET-11The ministerial dialogue will examine how sustainable land management (SLM) and drought resilience can address the interconnected challenges of land degradation, forced migration, and conflict. With 3.2 billion people globally affected by land degradation and over 120 million forcibly displaced, these issues undermine stability, security and livelihoods.Key ReportsInvesting in Land’s Future: Financial Needs Assessment for UNCCD ReportWhen: Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 08:45–09:45Where: MET-33The report highlights that the world needs US$1 billion a day - the equivalent of the annual amount wasted on polluting subsidies - to reverse land degradation, restore ecosystems and build drought resilience, and underlines the urgent need to scale up financial commitments and promote innovative solutions to bridge the funding gap.Economics of Drought: Investing in nature-based solutions for drought resilience Report When: Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 10:00–10:30Where: MET-05This report highlights the underestimated economic costs of drought, which go beyond immediate damage to impact critical sectors such as energy, health and the wider economy. By investing in sustainable land and water management, the report highlights how nature-based solutions not only mitigate the multi-billion dollar costs of man-made drought, but also deliver far-reaching economic, social and environmental benefits.Other Press EventsDaily Press Conference: Media Briefing on Drought and FinanceWhen: Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 12:30–14:30Where: MET-17Speakers:Andrea Meza Murillo, UNCCD Deputy Executive SecretaryPablo Muñoz, Program Officer Global MechanismKey speakers will discuss the highlights of the Investing in Land’s Future: Financial needs assessment for UNCCD report as well as the Economics of Drought: Investing in nature-based solutions for drought resilience report. This briefing will provide an opportunity for journalists to engage directly with experts and understand the broader implications of these findings for global land restoration efforts.To follow live: https://webtv.un.org/en/scheduleMedia 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: XXXUNCCD 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 Future Key COP16 Events for Media 3 December: Launch of the Investing in Land’s Future: Financial needs assessment for UNCCD Report3 December: Launch of the Economics of Drought: Investing in nature-based solutions for drought resilience Report3 December: Ministerial dialogues on Finance and Migration4 December New Nature of Business Book Launch4 December Fashion for Land6 December: Launch of the Primer on Urban-Rural Linkages and Land9 December: Launch of the Global Aridity Trends Report

UNCCD COP16 Opens in Riyadh: A Turning Point for Global Land Restoration and Drought ResilienceMedia representatives are invited  to the opening of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), taking place from 2–13 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Under the theme “Our Land. Our Future,” COP16 will convene over 10,000 global leaders, experts, and advocates to tackle the pressing challenges of land degradation, desertification, and drought.As the first-ever COP hosted in the Middle East and North Africa region, COP16 highlights the urgency of collective action and investment in sustainable land restoration and drought resilience. This landmark event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, reinforcing its global commitment to combating desertification and ensuring a sustainable future.Key EventsOpening Ceremony and COP16 OpeningWhen: Monday, 2 December 2024, 09:30–13:00Where: Plenary HallThe opening ceremony will set the stage for this pivotal conference, highlighting its key objectives and the urgency of global cooperation to address land-related challenges.Accredited photographers are required to be at the Press Center by 8:45 a.m. to be escorted to the Plenary Hall. All other media can follow the event live on: https://webtv.un.org/en/scheduleOpening Press ConferenceWhen: Monday, 2 December 2024, 13:15–14:30Where: Press Conference Room MET-17Speakers:Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive SecretaryJohan Rockström, Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchIncoming UNCCD COP 16 PresidencyKey speakers will discuss COP16’s objectives, expected milestones, and insights from the Special Report on Land: Planetary Boundaries: Confronting the Global Crisis of Land Degradation, launched on 1 December 2024. The report, led by Prof. Dr. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), presents actionable recommendations for sustainable land use and food systems to protect human and environmental well-being.To follow live: https://webtv.un.org/en/scheduleKey ReportsPlanetary Boundaries: Confronting the Global Crisis of Land DegradationWhen: Monday, 2 December 2024, 13:15–14:30Where: MET-17This flagship report highlights transformative measures to ensure sustainable land use and food systems, serving as a critical roadmap to combat desertification and restore degraded lands worldwide.World Drought Atlas LaunchWhen: Monday, 2 December 2024, 17:30–18:00Where: MET-33The World Drought Atlas  highlights escalating drought risks and their ripple effects on ecosystems, food security, and water resources, underscoring the need for resilience strategies.Other Press EventsEuropean Union Press Conference: Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular EconomyWhen: Monday, 2 December 2024, 17:00-17:30Where: MET-17Commissioner Roswall delivers a statement outlining EU priorities for COP16.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: XXXUNCCD 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 Future Key COP16 Events for Media 3 December: Launch of the Investing in Land’s Future: Financial needs assessment for UNCCD Report3 December: Launch of the Economics of Drought Resilience Report3 December: Ministerial dialogues on Finance and Migration4 December New Nature of Business Book Launch4 December Fashion for Land6 December: Launch of the Primer on Urban-Rural Linkages and Land9 December: Launch of the Global Aridity Trends Report