JOURNAL

This session addresses the urgent global challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought, as outlined in UNEA Resolution 6/14 from the Sixth United Nations Environment Assembly. Aimed at fostering policy coherence and cross-institutional collaboration, the event provides a platform for youth to engage meaningfully in shaping and implementing sustainable land management and drought resilience efforts.

The session’s primary objective is to inspire greater collaboration and engagement by showcasing the unique value of youth-driven innovation and action in environmental sustainability. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of the critical need for youth inclusion and to promote stronger partnerships to unlock their potential as changemakers.

This event marks the launch of the “Decent Work in Nature-based solutions 2024” report, a collaborative effort by ILO, IUCN, and UNEP. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer effective approaches for addressing global challenges—such as land degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss—while also delivering critical social and economic benefits, include employment creation. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss the report’s findings and the broader links between NbS and decent work and sustainable livelihoods.

This session will unite multiple regions—including Kenya, Brazil, the U.S., and Australia—in a focused dialogue on global rangeland restoration. Topics will cover sustainable rangeland management, investment in restoration, and scaling efforts for environmental and community benefits. Featuring country-specific insights, the session seeks to drive collaborative solutions for resilient and sustainable rangelands worldwide.

Mobility matters for millions of pastoralists and hunter-gatherers around the world who move with their livestock and/or hunt and gather across vast lands of patchily distributed vegetation and water, enabled by a network of routes and reciprocity and cooperation. This session will be both an opportunity to celebrate mobility and to raise and address some of the challenges facing mobility. A series of inspiring films will be shown. It will support the global momentum for the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 as a unique opportunity for the recognition and safeguarding of the mobility of rangelands users.

What is not measured cannot be counted, analyzed or addressed. At CRIC21, Parties recommended that the UNCCD develop gender-responsive indicators to track how drought, land degradation, and desertification affect women and men. This session will showcase best practices in gender-responsive indicators to guide the UNCCD in refining its metrics for the next strategic framework.

The objective of this side event is to provide a platform to Indigenous Peoples, and local communities to showcase their contributions to ecosystem conservation and restoration in order to promote recognition and support from different partners. It also aims to bring attention of policy makers and member states about the importance of representation and involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the conservation and restoration agendas.

Data shows that women are the most affected by drought due to structural gender inequalities, yet many are demonstrating leadership and resilience by driving community adaptation efforts. This session will present the key findings of a new research study commissioned by UNCCD and FAO to detect and highlight the most innovative and effective examples of women champions tackling drought in all corners of the world, and will share the perspectives from the women leaders themselves.

For the first time, UNCCD COP16 will host a dedicated dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, aiming to integrate their voices into UNCCD’s implementation. The session will focus on crafting recommendations for meaningful Indigenous participation, especially in rangeland protection ahead of the International Year of Rangelands. This initiative seeks to establish a lasting framework for collaboration, ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to land restoration are recognized and supported. Indigenous representatives will also engage in high-level events and People’s Day activities, calling for partnerships to enhance their participation in COP16’s discussions and decision-making.

The high-level event, held under the patronage of the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Peoples’ Day, will gather ministers, UNCCD leadership, COP presidencies, international organizations, youth-led initiatives like the Youth Negotiator Academy, and partners such as AGFUND and the MISK Foundation. The event will address challenges to combating DLDD, including institutional, financial, and policy barriers, while exploring opportunities in technology, community solutions, and collaboration. An intergenerational dialogue will emphasize empowering youth as essential partners and leaders in advancing resilience and sustainable action against DLDD.