The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was conducted from 2nd December to 13th December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The conference was based on the theme – Our Land. Our Future ,saw the participation of nearly 200 countries.
- It was the largest UN land conference till now involving UNCCD’s 197 Parties – 196 countries and the European Union (EU).
- The conference aimed to renew global commitment to enhance investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.
- This was the first UNCCD COP being held in the Middle East and North Africa region and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.
- The event also coincided with the UNCCD’s 30th anniversary.
- The UNCCD estimates that USD 2.6 trillion in investments are needed by 2030 to restore over one billion hectares of degraded land and enhance drought resilience.
Note–The UNCCD COP 17 will take place in Mongolia in 2026.
Highlights of India’s Presentation and Initiatives at UNCCD COP16
Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav highlighted India’s efforts to address land degradation and desertification, in accordance to the objectives of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
- India presented the Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP). The Aravali project aims to revive over 1.1 million hectares of the hills across Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi by 2027.
- India’s “Plant for Mother” campaign has planted over 1 billion saplings in 2024 to tackle land degradation and climate change.
- India has actively participated in launching the International Big Cat Alliance, a global coalition of a range of countries of big cats.
- India reasserted its commitment under the Bonn challenge (COP 14) of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, of which more than 22.50 million hectares has already been restored.
- India also supported the G-20 goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030, thereby creating carbon sinks.
- Moreover, India has adopted a “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society”, approach to restore of degraded land through the Green India Mission.
- Amrit Sarovar Initiative:For water conservation, an initiative namely Amrit Sarovar has been launched.
- Green Credit Program: Degraded land parcels are restored with financial support through the Green Credit Program.
- Soil Health Cards for Farmers: India issues Soil Health Cards to promote sustainable farming and organic practices.
India’s MGNREGS major contributor to global Nature-based Solutions, says report
According to a report titled Decent Work in Nature-based solutions(NbS) 2024, only 1.8% of global employment is contributed by NbS.
- 93-95% of the world’s Nature-based Solutions (NbS) employments are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region.
- India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), established in 2005 plays a major role in contributing to this employment, especially in areas focused on environmental and land restoration work.
- 50% of the 59 million people employed globally through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are women.
- The report is the second in a series, the first part of which was launched in 2022.
- It is launched by International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Three-Quarters of Earth’s Land Became Drier in Last 30 Years: UN report
According to the Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections launched by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), around 77.6% of Earth’s land have become drier during the three decades up to 2020 compared to the previous 30-year period.
- Around 7.6% of global lands became drylands with South Sudan and Tanzania as nations with the largest percentage of land transitioning to drylands and China largely shifting towards it.
- The report warns that if the world fails to curb greenhouse gas emissions, another 3% of the world’s humid areas will become drylands by 2100.
- Currently 2.5 billion people live in drylands and this can expand up to 5 billion by 2100.
UNCCD COP16 recognizes importance of indigenous communities in combating desertification
Indigenous peoples of the world have a very important role to play in combating desertification. i.COP16 advocates for establishing an Indigenous Peoples Caucus within the UNCCD, separate from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
- This will ensure meaningful Indigenous engagement, in line with UN norms and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The caucus will offer a platform for Indigenous Peoples to share knowledge and advise the UNCCD, enhancing their role in combating land degradation and climate change.
- While indigenous people represent just 5% of the world’s population of the world, they have been recognized as “gatekeepers of green areas”, which occupy 22% of planet.
Indigenous Communities and Their Sustainable Practices in Combating Desertification:-
i.Some of the Indigenous Practices in India:-
- Regenerative Agriculture & Agroforestry: Adivasi Tribes (Chhattisgarh) combine tree planting with crop cultivation to improve soil health.
- Protected Area Management: Kuki Tribe (Manipur) helps conserve Sangai National Park and its endangered deer.
- Forest Restoration: Toda Tribe (Nilgiri Hills) preserves sacred groves through traditional methods.
- Water Management: Bhils (Madhya Pradesh) use tank-based irrigation to harvest rainwater for agriculture.
ii.The Maasai (Kenya/Tanzania): Use rotational grazing to restore soil fertility.
iii.The San People (Southern Africa): Apply traditional fire management to prevent desertification.
iv.The Quechua (Andes, South America): Practice terrace farming and water conservation.
v.The Bedouins (Middle East): Practice sustainable camel herding and desert agriculture.
Key Initiatives Launched by Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia announced five new projects worth USD 60 million to enhance its climate and environmental efforts under the Saudi Green Initiative.
i.COP 16 Riyadh secures USD 12 Billion to Combat Drought and Land Degradation
Global Drought Resilience Partnership was launched on the opening day of COP16, under Saudi Arabia’s leadership to combat drought impacts globally. COP16 in Riyadh secured over USD12 billion in pledges, enhancing the role of financial institutions and the private sector in tackling land degradation, desertification, and drought.
- The Arab Coordination Group contributed the highest amount of USD 10 billion along with additional pledges of USD 1 billion from the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) Fund and USD 1 billion from the Islamic Development Bank.
ii.Saudi Arabia pledges USD 150 million for drought resilience
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially elected as President of the UNCCD COP16 at the opening ceremony.
- It also pledged to contribute USD 150 million to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.
iii.International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO)
- The prototype of the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO), launched at COP16, is the first global AI-driven platform designed to help countries assess and improve their ability to cope with droughts.
- This initiative is part of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), which Saudi Arabia joined earlier this 2024.
iv.Saudi Arabia Launches Landmark Young Researchers Awards
Saudi Arabia has launched the Young Researchers Award at the COP16 for the students and young researchers from across the world.
- It is giving a total prize money of USD 70,000, with an aim to accelerate groundbreaking research and innovative solutions addressing land degradation, drought and desertification
- A total of seven awards of USD 10,000 each will be given to early-career researchers (up to age 35).
v.Saudi Arabia Launches Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring Initiative
Saudi Arabia launched an international sand and dust storm monitoring initiative in order to boost regional early warning system and to complement existing efforts overseen by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Other Notable Initiatives:-
i.Great Green Wall (GGW) raised EUR 11 million from Italy for land restoration in the Sahel and EUR 3.6 million from Austria to support coordination across 22 African nations. The GGW Accelerator is a UNCCD-supported initiative aimed at scaling up and fast-tracking the implementation of the Great Green Wall (GGW) project.
ii.Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS):-The U.S. and partners committed nearly USD 70 million to the VACS initiative, focused on building resilient, climate-adapted food systems with nutritious crops grown in healthy soils.
iii.OMG Partners with Ghana at UNCCD COP 16
Organic Microgreens Pvt. Ltd. (OMG) (India) and the Center for Climate and Sustainability Empowerment (CCSE) (Ghana) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the innovative OMG Lab Initiative in schools across Ghana, focusing on sustainable farming, education, nutrition, and entrepreneurship.
- This program aligns with SDG 2: Zero Hunger,SDG 13: Climate Action,SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 15: Life on Land.
IsDB provides over USD 4.4 billion to UNCCD
Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Muhammad Al Jasser highlighted that since 2018, IsDB has provided over USD 4.4 billion in financing for projects aligned with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Points to be noted
Some of the UNCCD’s previous initiatives to enhance collaboration and mobilize resources for land restoration are
- The Science-Policy Interface (SPI) was established in 2013 as part of the UNCCD’s efforts to strengthen the integration of scientific knowledge into policy-making and decision processes.
- The Business4Land initiative was launched in 2017 to engage the private sector in efforts to combat land degradation and promote sustainable land use practices.
About United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):
Executive Secretary– Ibrahim Thiaw
Headquarters – Bonn, Germany
Founded– 1994
