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Aridity: The ‘existential crisis’ redefining life on EarthFive billion people could be affected by 2100Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Even as dramatic water-related disasters such as floods and storms intensified in some parts of the world, more than three-quarters of Earth’s land became permanently drier in recent decades, UN scientists warned today in a stark new analysis.Some 77.6% of Earth’s land experienced drier conditions during the three decades leading up to 2020 compared to the previous 30-year period, according to the landmark report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).Over the same period, drylands expanded by about 4.3 million km2 – an area nearly a third larger than India, the world’s 7th largest country – and now cover 40.6% of all land on Earth (excluding Antarctica).In recent decades some 7.6% of global lands – an area larger than Canada – were pushed across aridity thresholds (i.e. from non-drylands to drylands, or from less arid dryland classes to more arid classes).Most of these areas have transitioned from humid landscapes to drylands, with dire implications for agriculture, ecosystems, and the people living there. And the research warns that, if the world fails to curb greenhouse gas emissions, another 3% of the world’s humid areas will become drylands by the end of this century. In high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, expanding drylands are forecast across the Midwestern United States, central Mexico, northern Venezuela, north-eastern Brazil, south-eastern Argentina, the entire Mediterranean Region, the Black Sea coast, large parts of southern Africa, and southern Australia.The report, The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections, was launched at the 16th conference of UNCCD’s nearly 200 Parties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (COP16), the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP to be held in the Middle East, a region profoundly affected by impacts from aridity.“This analysis finally dispels an uncertainty that has long surrounded global drying trends,” says Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary. “For the first time, the aridity crisis has been documented with scientific clarity, revealing an existential threat affecting billions around the globe.” “Unlike droughts—temporary periods of low rainfall—aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,” he adds. “Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost.  The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were and this change is redefining life on Earth.”The report by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI) — the UN body for assessing the science of land degradation and drought — points to human-caused climate change as the primary driver of this shift. Greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation, transport, industry and land use changes warm the planet and other human activities warm the planet and affect rainfall, evaporation and plant life, creating the conditions that increase aridity.Global aridity index (AI) data track these conditions and reveal widespread change over the decades. Aridification hotspotsAreas particularly hard-hit by the drying trend include almost all of Europe (95.9% of its land), parts of the western United States, Brazil, parts of Asia (notably eastern Asia), and central Africa.Parts of the Western United States and Brazil: Significant drying trends, with water scarcity and wildfires becoming perennial hazards.Mediterranean and Southern Europe: Once considered agricultural breadbaskets, these areas face a stark future as semi-arid conditions expand.Central Africa and parts of Asia: Biologically megadiverse areas are experiencing ecosystem degradation and desertification, endangering countless species.By contrast, less than a quarter of the planet’s land (22.4%) experienced wetter conditions, with areas in the central United States, Angola’s Atlantic coast, and parts of Southeast Asia showing some gains in moisture.The overarching trend, however, is clear: drylands are expanding, pushing ecosystems and societies to suffer from aridity's life-threatening impacts.The report names South Sudan and Tanzania as nations with the largest percentage of land transitioning to drylands, and China as the country experiencing the largest total area shifting from non-drylands into drylands.For the 2.3 billion people – well over 25% of the world’s population – living in the expanding drylands, this new normal requires lasting, adaptive solutions. Aridity-related land degradation, known as desertification, represents a dire threat to human well-being and ecological stability. And as the planet continues to warm, report projections in the worst-case scenario suggest up to 5 billion people could live in drylands by the century’s end, grappling with depleted soils, dwindling water resources, and the diminishment or collapse of once-thriving ecosystems.Forced migration is one of aridity’s most visible consequences. As land becomes uninhabitable, families and entire communities facing water scarcity and agricultural collapse often have no choice but to abandon their homes, leading to social and political challenges worldwide. From the Middle East to Africa and South Asia, millions are already on the move—a trend set to intensify in coming decades.Aridity’s devastating impactThe effects of rising aridity are cascading and multifaceted, touching nearly every aspect of life and society, the report says.It warns that one fifth of all land could experience abrupt ecosystem transformations from rising aridity by the end of the century, causing dramatic shifts (such as forests becoming grasslands and other changes) and leading to extinctions among many of the world’s plants, animals and other life.Aridity is considered the world’s largest single driver behind the degradation of agricultural systems, affecting 40% of Earth’s arable landsRising aridity has been blamed for a 12% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) recorded for African countries between 1990–2015More than two thirds of all land on the planet (excluding Greenland and Antarctica) is projected to store less water by the end of the century, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise even modestlyAridity is considered one of the world’s five most important causes of land degradation (along with land erosion, salinization, organic carbon loss and vegetation degradation)Rising aridity in the Middle East has been linked to the region’s more frequent and larger sand and dust stormsIncreasing aridity is expected to play a role in larger and more intense wildfires in the climate-altered future—not least because of its impacts on tree deaths in semi-arid forests and the consequent growing availability of dry biomass for burningRising aridity’s impacts on poverty, water scarcity, land degradation and insufficient food production have been linked to increasing rates of sickness and death globally —especially among children and womenRising aridity and drought play a key role in increasing human migration around the world—particularly in the hyper-arid and arid areas of southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and southern Asia. Report marks a turning pointFor years, documenting the rise of aridity proved a challenge, the report states. Its long-term nature and the intricate interplay of factors such as rainfall, evaporation, and plant transpiration made analysis difficult. Early studies produced conflicting results, often muddied by scientific caution.The new report marks a turning point, leveraging advanced climate models and standardized methodologies to deliver a definitive assessment of global drying trends, confirming the inexorable rise of aridity, while providing critical insights into its underlying drivers and potential future trajectory.RecommendationsThe report offers a comprehensive roadmap for tackling aridity, emphasizing both mitigation and adaptation. Among its recommendations:Strengthen aridity monitoringIntegrate aridity metrics into existing drought monitoring systems. This approach would enable early detection of changes and help guide interventions before conditions worsen. Platforms like the new Aridity Visual Information Tool provide policymakers and researchers with valuable data, allowing for early warnings and timely interventions. Standardized assessments can enhance global cooperation and inform local adaptation strategies.Improve land use practicesIncentivizing sustainable land use systems can mitigate the impacts of rising aridity, particularly in vulnerable regions. Innovative, holistic, sustainable approaches to land management are the focus of another new UNCCD SPI report, Sustainable Land Use Systems: The path to collectively achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, available at https://bit.ly/3ZwkLZ3. It considers how land-use at one location affect others elsewhere, makes resilience to climate change or other shocks a priority, and encourages participation and buy-in by Indigenous and local communities as well as all levels of government. Projects like the Great Green Wall—a land restoration initiative spanning Africa—demonstrate the potential for large-scale, holistic efforts to combat aridity and restore ecosystems, while creating jobs and stabilizing economies.Invest in water efficiencyTechnologies such as rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and wastewater recycling offer practical solutions for managing scarce water resources in dry regions.Build resilience in vulnerable communitiesLocal knowledge, capacity building, social justice and holistic thinking  are vital to resilience. Sustainable land use systems encourage decision makers to apply responsible governance, protect human rights (including secure land access) and ensure accountability and transparency. Capacity-building programmes, financial support, education programmes, climate information services and community-driven initiatives empower those most affected by aridity to adapt to changing conditions. Farmers switching to drought-resistant crops or pastoralists adopting more arid-tolerant livestock exemplify incremental adaptation.Develop international frameworks and cooperationThe UNCCD’s Land Degradation Neutrality framework provides a model for aligning national policies with international goals, ensuring a unified response to the crisis. National Adaptation Plans must incorporate aridity alongside drought planning to create cohesive strategies that address water and land management challenges. Cross-sectoral collaboration at the global level, facilitated by frameworks like the UNCCD, is essential for scaling solutions.Comments“For decades, the world’s scientists have signalled that our growing greenhouse gas emissions are behind global warming. Now, for the first time, a UN scientific body is warning that burning fossil fuels is causing permanent drying across much of the world, too—with potentially catastrophic impacts affecting access to water that could push people and nature even closer to disastrous tipping points.  As large tracts of the world’s land become more arid, the consequences of inaction grow increasingly dire and adaptation is no longer optional—it is imperative.” – UNCCD Chief Scientist Barron Orr“Without concerted efforts, billions face a future marked by hunger, displacement, and economic decline. Yet, by embracing innovative solutions and fostering global solidarity, humanity can rise to meet this challenge. The question is not whether we have the tools to respond—it is whether we have the will to act.” –  Nichole Barger, Chair, UNCCD Science-Policy Interface“The report’s clarity is a wake-up call for policymakers: tackling aridity demands more than just science—it requires a diversity of perspectives and knowledge systems. By weaving Indigenous and local knowledge with cutting-edge data, we can craft stronger, smarter strategies to slow aridity’s advance, mitigate its impacts and thrive in a drying world.” – Sergio Vicente-Serrano, co-lead author of the report and an aridity expert with Spain’s Pyrenean Institute of Ecology“This report underscores the critical need to address aridity as a defining global challenge of our time. By uniting diverse expertise and leveraging breakthrough technologies, we are not just measuring change—we are crafting a roadmap for resilience. Tackling aridity demands a collaborative vision that integrates innovation, adaptive solutions, and a commitment to securing a sustainable future for all." – Narcisa Pricope, co-lead author, professor of geosciences and associate vice president for research at Mississippi State University, USA.“The timeliness of this report cannot be overstated.  Rising aridity will reshape the global landscape, challenging traditional ways of life and forcing societies to reimagine their relationship with land and water.  As with climate change and biodiversity loss, addressing aridity requires coordinated international action and an unwavering commitment to sustainable development.” – Andrea Toreti, co-lead author and senior scientist, European Commission’s Joint Research CentreBy the Numbers: Key global trends / projections77.6%: Proportion of Earth's land that experienced drier climates from 1990–2020 compared to the previous 30 years.40.6%: Global land mass (excluding Antarctica) classified as drylands, up from 37.5% over the last 30 years.4.3 million km²: Humid lands transformed into drylands in the last three decades, an area one-third larger than India40%: Global arable land affected by aridity—the leading driver of agricultural degradation.30.9%: Global population living in drylands in 2020, up from 22.5% in 19902.3 billion: People living in drylands in 2020, a doubling from 1990, projected to more than double again by 2100 under a worst-case climate change scenario.1.35 billion: Dryland inhabitants in Asia—more than half the global total.620 million: Dryland inhabitants in Africa—nearly half of the continent’s population.9.1%: Portion of Earth’s land classified as hyperarid, including the Atacama (Chile), Sahara (Africa), Namib (Africa), and Gobi (China/Mongolia) deserts.23%: Increase in global land at "moderate" to "very high" desertification risk by 2100 under the worst-case emissions scenario+8% at "very high" risk+5% at "high" risk+10% at "moderate" riskEnvironmental degradation5: Key drivers of land degradation: Rising aridity, land erosion, salinization, organic carbon loss, and vegetation degradation20%: Global land at risk of abrupt ecosystem transformations by 2100 due to rising aridity55%: Species (mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and birds) at risk of habitat loss from aridity. Hotspots: (Arid regions): West Africa, Western Australia, Iberian Peninsula; (Humid regions): Southern Mexico, northern Amazon rainforestEconomics12%: African GDP decline attributed to aridity, 1990–201516% / 6.7%: Projected GDP losses in Africa / Asia by 2079 under a moderate emissions scenario20M tons maize, 21M tons wheat, 19M tons rice: Expected losses in global crop yields by 2040 due to expanding aridity50%: Projected drop in maize yields in Kenya by 2050 under a high emissions scenarioWater 90%: Rainfall in drylands that evaporates back into the atmosphere, leaving 10% for plant growth67%: Global land expected to store less water by 2100, even under moderate emission scenarios75%: Decline in water availability in the Middle East and North Africa since the 1950s40%: Predicted Andean runoff decline by 2100 under a high emissions scenario, threatening water supplies in South AmericaHealth55%: Increase in severe child stunting in sub-Saharan Africa under a medium emissions scenario due to combined effects of aridity and climate warmingUp to 12.5%: Estimated rise in mortality risks during sand and dust storms in China, 2013–201857% / 38%: Increases in fine and coarse atmospheric dust levels, respectively, in the southwestern U.S. by 2100 under worst case climate scenarios220%: Projected increase in premature deaths due to airborne dust in the southwestern United States by 2100 under the high-emissions scenario160%: Expected rise in hospitalizations linked to airborne dust in the same regionWildfires and forests74%: Expected increase in wildfire-burned areas in California by 2100 under high emission scenarios40: Additional annual high fire danger days in Greece by 2100 compared to late 20th century levelsNotes to editors:Aridity versus droughtHighly arid regions are places in which a persistent, long-term climatic condition lacks available moisture to support most forms of life and atmospheric evaporative demand significantly exceeds rainfall. Drought, on the other hand, is an anomalous, shorter-term period of water shortage affecting ecosystems and people and often attributed to low precipitation, high temperatures, low air humidity and/or anomalies in wind. While drought is part of natural climate variability and can occur in almost any climatic regime, aridity is a stable condition for which changes occur over extremely long-time scales under significant forcing. Media contacts: press@unccd.intFragkiska Megaloudi, +30 6945547877 (WhatsApp) fmegaloudi@unccd.int   Gloria Pallares, +34 606 93 1460 gpallares@unccd.intTerry Collins, +1-416-878-8712 tc@tca.tcAuthors and other experts are available for advance interviews.  The full report, The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections, is available for media preview at https://www.unccd.int/resources/reports/global-threat-drying-lands-regional-and-global-aridity-trends-and-future

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) is providing comprehensive daily multimedia coverage of COP 16, including detailed reports, photographs and analyses of events and proceedings. The ENB is a balanced, timely and independent reporting service, covering the UN environmental and development negotiations. If is the flagship publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), a non-profit organization based in Canada. Many UN delegates, ministers and other governmental officials, NGOs, the business community, the academia, the. Media and UN staff who track environment and sustainable development issues consider the ENB coverage to be essential reading, respecting its impartial and comprehensive coverage.All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. 

Munich, Germany, 16 February, 2025 – As global leaders convene at the Munich Security Conference 2025 (MSC2025) to address pressing security challenges, land restoration is emerging as a crucial strategy for conflict prevention and long-term stability. At the MSC 2025 session Conversation on Land Restoration and Security, hosted by UNCCD in partnership with Adelphi research, experts and decision-makers explored the role of land restoration in fostering resilience, security and transboundary cooperation.  UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Land degradation is not merely an environmental crisis — it is a critical security challenge. Over 3 billion people depend on land for survival, yet up to 40 per cent of global land is already degraded, exacerbating food and water scarcity, economic instability and displacement. Governments, security organizations and financial institutions must recognize that restoring land is restoring peace. Without urgent action, competition over shrinking resources will continue to drive instability and displacement.” The significance of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification today extends far beyond its original goal of combating desertification. As fertile soils become increasingly scarce and land rights are challenged globally, these issues threaten food security, biodiversity and climate stability, said Jochen Flasbarth, the State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), adding that “Ultimately, they pose a serious risk to global peace and security. To effectively respond, the agenda on land, peace and security must be elevated on the global stage, with a strong emphasis on integrated cooperation at international, regional and national levels."Land degradation: A global security threat As climate change accelerates desertification and depletes essential resources, competition over dwindling land intensifies, increasing the risks of conflict and forced migration. It is estimated that climate change could lead millions of people moving within their own borders by 2050. The Ground for Peace report highlights: Land degradation exacerbates conflict, intensifying competition over food, water and resources60 per cent of ecosystem services in conflict-affected regions have already been degraded, making recovery even more challengingOnly 10 per cent of global climate finance (2015-2024) has been allocated to land restoration, despite its role in reducing conflict risksThe economic cost of land degradation is estimated at $6.3 trillion annually, significantly impacting global stabilityEnvironmental peacebuilding initiatives, such as transboundary land restoration, create shared incentives for cooperation and long-term stabilityStrengthened governance and land tenure rights are essential to ensuring that land restoration contributes to lasting peace and resilience“The Ground for Peace report presents compelling evidence from global research and real-world initiatives that restoring land and ecosystems is not just an environmental necessity — it is a strategic pathway to peace and security,” says Dr Beatrice Mosello, Senior Advisor at adelphi research. “By demonstrating how sustainable land management reduces competition over resources and fosters cooperation, the report makes a strong case for integrating land restoration into global security policies. Urgent action is needed to scale up financing and policy support, ensuring that land restoration becomes a key tool for peacebuilding worldwide.” The role of land restoration in global security Transboundary land restoration presents a critical opportunity for mitigating and resolving disputes over shared natural resources. By fostering cross-border collaboration, sustainable land management can serve as a confidence-building measure, equipping governments and marginalized communities with the tools needed for cooperative decision-making. One such initiative is the Peace Forest Initiative (PFI), launched by the UNCCD in partnership with the Korea Forest Service. The PFI promotes cross-border cooperation in fragile and conflict-affected regions by restoring degraded lands and forests, reducing tensions and fostering trust through shared environmental efforts. Successful large-scale restoration projects further demonstrate the potential of land rehabilitation to strengthen regional cooperation and economic resilience. The Great Green Wall, which stretches across the Sahel, has shown how combating desertification can also enhance stability and livelihoods. Similarly, the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) — one of the world's largest conservation zones — exemplifies how joint resource management can protect biodiversity while easing tensions over land and water access across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Latin America, the Cordillera del Cóndor Transboundary Conservation Corridor, established as part of a peace agreement between Ecuador and Peru, underscores the role of environmental restoration in reconciliation and long-term stability. However, the success of these initiatives depends on strong governance frameworks and sustained financial commitments to ensure their long-term viability and impact.  Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister of State Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir emphasized the far-reaching consequences of land degradation, stating: “Land degradation leads to conflicts, leads to violence, leads to extremism, leads to terrorism, leads to migration, leads to political instability and leads to all of us paying an extremely high price to deal with the consequences of an issue that, had we paid attention to at the outset, would have cost us a fraction of the resources.” The Ground for Peace report calls for immediate investments in land restoration as a fundamental pillar of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Scalable solutions—such as agroforestry, reforestation and water conservation—must be expanded to stabilize fragile regions, reduce resource-driven conflicts and foster economic resilience. Media contact: press@unccd.int The full report, Ground for Peace: Land Restoration for International Peace and Security report is available here.About UNCCD  The 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 adelphiAdelphi research is an independent think tank and public policy consultancy focused on climate, environment and sustainable development. It supports policymakers and stakeholders in achieving sustainable solutions to global challenges. About the Peace Forest Initiative The Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) is a UNCCD flagship program linking land, peace and security by restoring ecosystems in fragile, conflict-affected areas. Launched in 2019, it fosters transboundary cooperation by uniting communities across borders to co-manage shared land resources. Inspired by early environmental peace-building successes at the 2018 Global LDN Forum, PFI provides an inclusive platform for stakeholders to restore land, soil, water and forests, strengthening resilience, peace and sustainable development. Photo (c): MSC / Thomas Niedermueller

Dear representatives of the UNCCD accredited civil society organizations (CSOs),Through decision 5/COP16, Parties requested the UNCCD Executive Secretary “to facilitate the renewal of the membership of the Civil Society Organization Panel until the next Conference of the Parties starting immediately after sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with previous decisions.”Following that request, the secretariat would like to share with you the call for nominations (see the right-hand menu) and the information related to the elections. Organizations willing to nominate representatives to serve as panel members will need to submit the documents stated in section 1 paragraph d) of the attached document. The deadline for the submission of the candidates is 18 February 2025. After that, and once the candidates have been reviewed and accepted the election process will be open from 21 February to 7 March 2025. Please share this information among your networks and come up with the best member to represent you for the next two years. Only organizations accredited to the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD can nominate candidates

For centuries, rangelands and pastoralist communities have been the backbone of cultures, economies and ecosystems around the world. Covering more than half of the Earth's land surface, these vast landscapes support two billion people and contribute significantly to global food security and climate resilience. Yet they have remained largely invisible in international policy discussions, slowly degrading under the pressures of climate change, unsustainable land use and economic expansion.   At UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, nations took a decisive step by adopting a decision on rangelands and pastoralists, marking an unprecedented commitment to protect these critical ecosystems and the people who depend on them. This commitment represents a fundamental shift, placing rangelands alongside forests and wetlands in global conservation efforts and ensuring that their role in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and food security is fully recognized.   Why rangelands are more important than ever Rangelands and grasslands provide one-sixth of the world's food supply and store nearly one-third of the planet's carbon stocks in their deep-rooted soils. They are vital to smallholder herders, farmers and indigenous communities, yet more than 50 per cent of these ecosystems are now degraded.  As Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), warns, their decline is often overlooked: "When a forest is destroyed, the loss is visible and causes immediate concern. But rangeland degradation is silent, often unnoticed and undervalued." He emphasizes the urgent need for global action to protect these landscapes before it is too late.  Beyond their economic significance, healthy rangelands stabilize soil, prevent erosion, regulate water cycles, enhance biodiversity, and store carbon – essential functions in the fight against climate change. Yet, despite their immense ecological value, these landscapes have historically received far less attention and funding than forests and wetlands. Recognizing this oversight, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), a global initiative designed to highlight the indispensable contributions of rangelands and pastoralist communities to our planet’s health and economies. A landmark decision at COP16 For the first time, UNCCD Parties adopted a decision to promote the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands – vast ecosystems used for grazing – ahead of COP17, which will be hosted by Mongolia in 2026.   Countries have pledged to improve pastoralists' land rights by aligning with international guidelines, strengthening legal protections and ensuring access to rangelands. The decision also emphasizes the value of Indigenous and local knowledge in sustainable land management, recognizing the role of traditional pastoral practices in conserving these ecosystems for future generations. Commitments were made to mobilize public-private partnerships, establish biodiversity credits and develop innovative financing models to ensure long-term investment.  This pivotal shift ends decades of neglect and places rangelands at the centre of global sustainability efforts. It aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and strengthens their integration into national biodiversity and climate strategies and action plans. With Mongolia set to host UNCCD COP17 in 2026, the global community has a unique opportunity to cement rangelands as a key focus of environmental policy. Plans are already underway to develop a UNCCD Flagship Initiative on Rangelands, which will foster international cooperation, secure large-scale funding for restoration, and facilitate knowledge sharing between scientists and pastoral communities.    However, systemic challenges remain. Conflicting land use policies, economic pressures and a lack of formal recognition of pastoralists' rights continue to threaten rangeland sustainability. Many pastoralist communities face displacement due to land conversion, mining and large-scale agricultural projects that prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term ecosystem health. Addressing these issues requires an integrated approach that combines scientific research, policy reform and traditional land management.    Translating commitments into action   “The commitments at UNCCD COP16 mark a turning point, but success depends on sustained collaboration. Governments must work closely with pastoralists and livestock value chain agents, conservation groups and financial institutions, to scale up investment through sustainable financing and innovative tools.” said Enrique Michaud co-chair of the IYRP Global Alliance. "Securing pastoralists' land rights is crucial to prevent displacement and conflict, to ensure access to their traditional rangelands and to fortify the ecosystem services they provide." Sustainable rangeland and land-use planning must balance conservation efforts with the economic realities of pastoral livelihoods, promoting land management strategies that maintain ecosystem health while supporting local economies. Rangeland conservation must also be fully integrated into national and global climate adaptation strategies to ensure that these landscapes contribute to long-term resilience to climate change and desertification.   Ensuring rangeland sustainability is not just an environmental imperative – it is a necessity for climate security, food sovereignty and cultural preservation. As UNCCD Parties and partners prepare for COP17, the momentum generated at COP16 must be translated into real action.  About UNCCD The 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. https://unccd.int About the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists On the initiative of Mongolia, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) to enhance rangeland management and the lives of pastoralists. With this declaration, UN Member States are called upon to invest in sustainable rangeland management, to restore degraded lands, to improve market access by pastoralists, to enhance livestock extension services, and to fill knowledge gaps on rangelands and pastoralism. The IYRP 2026 will coincide with the UNCCD COP17 to be hosted by Mongolia. https://iyrp.info 

To what extent are a country’s economy, people, and infrastructure able to cope with drought and how can they do better? That is what the latest initiative of IDRA looks to answer, as 75 per cent of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades and drought is driving forced displacement, disrupting shipping and hampering food and energy production around the world.The International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO), the first global AI-driven platform for proactive drought management, unveiled its prototype at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, which laid the groundwork for a future global drought regime.As the tool enters its final development phase ahead of the next UN land conference, which will take place in Mongolia in 2026, IDRO developers and partners break down what sets the Observatory apart, how it fits with existing drought-related initiatives, and why it matters for climate change adaptation.What kind of insights does IDRO provide?IDRO sheds light on the capacity of territories to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought from various perspectives —built environments, natural environments, communities, and the economy. By selecting different variables, users from the global to the local level can generate visualizations to understand where the pain points are and set priorities for action.“With IDRO, authorities and land and water managers will be able to analyze and visualize key drought resilience indicators as the basis for better decisions,” says UNCCD Senior Advisor Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta.Importantly, users needn’t be specialists to use, and draw value from, the tool, which can support interventions across global, regional, country, and local scales.Why do we need an International Drought Resilience Observatory?“We must move from merely assessing drought risks towards building resilience,” says Andrea Toreti, senior scientist at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (EC- JRC), who coordinates the Copernicus European and Global Drought Observatories. “This is precisely IDRO’s added value: helping to quantify and evaluate the drought resilience status of a place to inform action on the ground.”The confirmation of 2024 as the warmest year on record highlights the growing urgency to turn science and data into policies and policies into action.“Simply put, we cannot adapt to climate change without building drought resilience,” says Roger Pulwarty, Senior Scientist at the Physical Sciences Laboratory of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). State Secretary of Environment of Spain Hugo Morán, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Minister for Environment of Saudi Arabia Osama Faqeeha, Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal Daouda Ngom, and European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, during the IDRO presentation at COP16 in December 2024.What unique value does IDRO add to existing drought databases and tools?In the past decade, experts have produced a wealth of data, indicators and metrics on drought and have advocated for a shift in emphasis from response to preparedness. However, the breadth and complexity of this information and the fact that it is scattered means it can be hard for busy decision-makers to use it.IDRO will draw on the best available data globally —including NASA’s and Copernicus’— to answer queries in a format that non-specialists can easily assimilate.“IDRO will package complex drought resilience information into accessible, customizable, and highly actionable formats, unlocking a world of possibilities in terms of assessing priorities, targeting investments, and monitoring progress,” says Hugo Morán, State Secretary of Environment of Spain, which co-chairs IDRA.Who is leading the development of IDRO?IDRO is an initiative of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), a global coalition of more than 70 countries and organizations hosted by the UNCCD.The creation of the Observatory is overseen by the IDRA secretariat in collaboration with the Yale Center for Ecosystems + Architecture, which acts as a developer, and top experts from governmental, non-governmental, multilateral, and research organizations from around the world.At a COP16 event on IDRO, Executive Secretary of UNCCD Ibrahim Thiaw pointed out the systemic nature of drought and the need to tackle it together: “We can only achieve meaningful results by joining forces; IDRO is a perfect example of the collaborative mindset we require to protect people from impending and future droughts.”The Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal Daouda Ngom, who co-chairs IDRA, also welcomed the development of the Observatory: “It reaffirms our joint commitment to making drought resilience a cornerstone of sustainable development and international cooperation.”What initiatives does IDRO build on?The Drought Initiative, launched by UNCCD in 2018, has already supported more than 70 countries in creating national drought plans and improving the technical and institutional capacity to enhance drought management. Additionally, it put together a toolbox that stakeholders can use to boost the resilience of people and ecosystems to drought.How does IDRO relate to initiatives like the Riyadh Drought Partnership?Unveiled at UNCCD COP16, the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership is a financial facility launched by Saudi Arabia —an IDRA member since 2024— to support 80 of the world’s most vulnerable countries in preparing for drought.IDRA, which is currently focused on mobilizing political will and developing innovative tools like IDRO, is proud to have inspired the Partnership and the Arab Coordination Group to raise USD 12.15 billion for the land and drought agenda, as announced during COP16.“IDRO will provide critical information to vulnerable communities and synergize with the Riyadh Partnership,” said Deputy Minister for Environment of Saudi Arabia Osama Faqeeha at an IDRO event at the UN conference.What is next for IDRO?IDRA is convening leading drought experts and allies to fine tune suitable environmental and social indicators for drought resilience; further develop the functionalities of the Observatory, which harnesses remote-sensing data and AI; and enhance data collection and visualization. The final version of IDRO, with all its functionalities, is expected to launch at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.