COP16 Concludes in Riyadh; 39 Decisions Adopted
COP16 concludes in Riyadh with the adoption of 39 decisions.
TroibNews 
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification concluded early on Saturday, resulting in the adoption of 39 decisions, which included a procedural decision regarding drought.
The final day of the two-week conference saw several delays as negotiations faltered over achieving consensus on a new drought framework. In response, parties adopted a procedural decision to continue discussions building on the progress made at COP16, with the objective of reaching a decision at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.
In related news, over $12 billion was pledged to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought globally, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable nations.
Announcements included new commitments for large-scale land restoration and drought preparedness initiatives, such as the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which secured $12.15 billion to support 80 of the world's most at-risk countries in enhancing their resilience to drought.
Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, spoke during the closing plenary, stating, "While parties need more time to agree on the best way forward to address the critical issue of drought, I am filled with hope with the launching of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, a landmark initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time."
He further added, “Through COP16, we have elevated the land and drought agenda beyond sector-specific discussions, establishing it as a cornerstone of global efforts to address interconnected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, migration and global security."
Thiaw remarked that the 39 decisions taken at this COP "will serve as guidance not only to all governments in the world but also to the private sector, indigenous peoples, and local communities."
COP16 President Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to collaborating with all parties on land restoration, expressing hope that "the outcomes of this session will lead to a significant shift that strengthens efforts to preserve land, reduce its degradation, build capacities to address drought, and contribute to the well-being of communities around the world."
Taking place from December 2 to 13 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future," COP16 was the largest UN land-focused conference to date and marked the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
The final day of the two-week conference saw several delays as negotiations faltered over achieving consensus on a new drought framework. In response, parties adopted a procedural decision to continue discussions building on the progress made at COP16, with the objective of reaching a decision at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.
In related news, over $12 billion was pledged to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought globally, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable nations.
Announcements included new commitments for large-scale land restoration and drought preparedness initiatives, such as the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which secured $12.15 billion to support 80 of the world's most at-risk countries in enhancing their resilience to drought.
Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, spoke during the closing plenary, stating, "While parties need more time to agree on the best way forward to address the critical issue of drought, I am filled with hope with the launching of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, a landmark initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time."
He further added, “Through COP16, we have elevated the land and drought agenda beyond sector-specific discussions, establishing it as a cornerstone of global efforts to address interconnected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, migration and global security."
Thiaw remarked that the 39 decisions taken at this COP "will serve as guidance not only to all governments in the world but also to the private sector, indigenous peoples, and local communities."
COP16 President Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to collaborating with all parties on land restoration, expressing hope that "the outcomes of this session will lead to a significant shift that strengthens efforts to preserve land, reduce its degradation, build capacities to address drought, and contribute to the well-being of communities around the world."
Taking place from December 2 to 13 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future," COP16 was the largest UN land-focused conference to date and marked the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
