Some of the most extensive and inclusive conferences of the UN on land, ended some days ago in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, drawing blueprints for global action on land degradation, drought, and desertification. The two hundred countries are present in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and are committing themselves to putting drought resilience and land restoration at the center of national policies and international cooperation as approaches to food security and adaptation to climate change.
Parties could not agree on the specifics of the new drought regime but adopted a strong political declaration and thirty-nine decisions that will shape the future. At the moment, droughts affect the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people worldwide and cause about 300 billion dollars worth of damages annually, endangering such sectors as energy, agriculture, and water.
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The conference also established specific caucuses for Indigenous Peoples and local populations, so their issues and perspectives are heard. Oliver Tester from Australia, representing Indigenous Peoples, said their dedication to protecting Earth as part of a specific caucus held.
Critical advances have been made toward developing a future international drought regime that will be concluded at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026. More than thirty decisions were given on related issues that included storms, enhanced scientific role, migration, dust research and innovations, and empowering women in the fight against environmental challenges. There were also new issues such as environmentally sustainable agrifood systems and rangelands, of which 54% cover all lands.
While degradation alone threatens one-sixth of world food supplies, it could also deplete a third of the carbon reserves of the earth.