ISLAMABAD: COP16 kick-started in Riyadh that aims to position land rehabilitation at the forefront of global environmental policy by emphasizing its cross-cutting role in achieving sustainable development goals. This COP will continue till 13th of December 2024.
As the host of COP16 in December, Saudi Arabia is poised to bring innovative frameworks to the table. Riyadh conference will feature groundbreaking initiatives, including the introduction of thematic days focused on land, agricultural systems, innovation, and people.
The Kingdom has already demonstrated its leadership through its commitment to restoring vegetation cover and promoting sustainable land use. Such efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes environmental sustainability alongside economic diversification.
COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev joined global leaders at the COP16 in Riyadh building advancing collaboration for sustainable land management on the successful outcomes of COP29 in Baku.
COP16 is focused on the importance of breaking down silos between conventions on land, climate, and biodiversity to address global challenges. These three pillars are deeply interconnected, and their integration is essential for building a sustainable future.
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The importance of land degradation is a recurring theme, with experts pointing to its role as both a symptom and a driver of broader environmental crises.
Land degradation not only diminishes biodiversity but also reduces agricultural productivity and undermines climate resilience, leading to an estimated $10 trillion in annual economic losses, according to the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative.
The intersection of land, climate, and biodiversity needs attention of the policy makers.
Khaled Al-Abdulkader, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development, in his recent interview to Arab News on COP16 , underlined the significance of restoring degraded lands as a cornerstone of integrated environmental action.
“Land degradation impacts agricultural systems, soil fertility, and climate stability. Restoring land not only enhances biodiversity and carbon sequestration but also offers significant economic benefits, creating opportunities for local communities,” he said.
Al-Abdulkader highlighted how Saudi Arabia is implementing initiatives that directly align with the objectives of the UN’s three major conventions: the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Projects such as mangrove restoration and ecosystem rehabilitation illustrate how land restoration can simultaneously support biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, and provide financial returns.
“If you invest $1 in land restoration, the returns can reach up to $30. This demonstrates how land-based solutions can address not only environmental challenges but also economic and social priorities,” he added.
Saudi Arabia emphasis on the potential of nature-based solutions in tackling land degradation and its associated impacts. These involve human interventions that emphasize existing facets of healthy ecosystem.
