UN desertification conference commences in Riyadh
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) commenced on Monday, emphasizing the need for international initiatives aimed at restoring land and enhancing resilience to drought.
TroibNews 
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification commenced on Monday, emphasizing the need for worldwide initiatives to restore land and enhance resilience to drought.
Taking place until December 13 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future," this conference is a significant event as it is the largest UN land-focused conference ever and the first UNCCD COP hosted in the Middle East and North Africa.
During the opening ceremony, Ibrahim Thiaw, the executive secretary of the UNCCD, underscored the importance of land restoration, characterizing it 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."
Thiaw warned that by 2050, up to 7.5 billion people will be affected by drought, urging for prompt measures. "Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation and build a more resilient world to drought," he emphasized.
Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley pointed out that over 3 billion people are affected by land degradation each year due to the loss of 100 million hectares of land, forest, and grasslands. "This will increase levels of migration, stability and security among many communities," he stated.
Throughout COP 16, which also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, delegates are anticipated to make decisions on coordinated actions to expedite land restoration, boost resilience to droughts and sandstorms, restore soil health, and expand nature-positive food production by 2030 and beyond.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
Taking place until December 13 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future," this conference is a significant event as it is the largest UN land-focused conference ever and the first UNCCD COP hosted in the Middle East and North Africa.
During the opening ceremony, Ibrahim Thiaw, the executive secretary of the UNCCD, underscored the importance of land restoration, characterizing it 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."
Thiaw warned that by 2050, up to 7.5 billion people will be affected by drought, urging for prompt measures. "Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation and build a more resilient world to drought," he emphasized.
Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley pointed out that over 3 billion people are affected by land degradation each year due to the loss of 100 million hectares of land, forest, and grasslands. "This will increase levels of migration, stability and security among many communities," he stated.
Throughout COP 16, which also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, delegates are anticipated to make decisions on coordinated actions to expedite land restoration, boost resilience to droughts and sandstorms, restore soil health, and expand nature-positive food production by 2030 and beyond.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
