UNCCD COP16: A Crucial Turning Point for Combating Land Degradation and Global Crises

The UNCCD COP16, set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, is a pivotal event to address land degradation, drought, and desertification. As human activities continue to degrade land at an alarming rate, this conference offers an opportunity for global cooperation and bold action to prevent irreversible environmental and economic damage.

UNCCD COP16: A Global Call to Action on Land Degradation, Drought, and Desertification

For years, sustainability conversations have mainly focused on climate change, carbon emissions, and pollution. However, land degradation, drought, and desertification—driven by deforestation, poor farming practices, and extreme weather events—are increasingly emerging as urgent issues that threaten millions of people worldwide. As human activities continue to exhaust the planet’s land and natural resources, these issues are accelerating, putting the well-being of billions at risk.

The 16th Conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will take place at a critical juncture. With the risk of widespread land degradation worsening, it is essential to act now and implement solutions to prevent catastrophic consequences. This conference offers an opportunity for global leaders to come together to combat these challenges and ensure sustainable futures for all.

The Scale of the Problem: A Global Crisis

Land is often taken for granted as an abundant and regenerative resource. However, human activities have degraded about 40% of the planet’s land, leading to a loss of fertile soil, water, and biodiversity. Today, 3.2 billion people live in areas affected by land degradation, and this number is only expected to grow.

Extreme weather events, widespread drought, and deforestation are contributing to the rapid degradation of once fertile lands. Between 2015 and 2019, an area equivalent to the size of Egypt was lost to degradation every year, pushing the total global degraded land to an estimated 2 billion hectares. This degradation causes ecosystems to collapse and threatens food and water security for billions.

Droughts and deforestation can strip land of its vital topsoil, making it unproductive and susceptible to erosion, desertification, and flash flooding. Once land becomes unproductive, it becomes a dead zone that loses its biodiversity and exacerbates environmental instability. Regions such as California, one of the largest agricultural producers in the world, are already experiencing devastating droughts, which threaten food production and the economy. At current rates, land degradation threatens half of the global GDP, underscoring the severity of the issue.

Certain regions, such as North and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, are particularly vulnerable to land degradation and water scarcity. By 2050, the UNCCD predicts that three out of four people in these regions will face water shortages, potentially displacing millions and leading to severe humanitarian crises.

The Importance of International Collaboration

Given the scale of the problem, international cooperation is vital. The UNCCD estimates that every dollar invested in land restoration could yield up to $30 in benefits. Additionally, the Economics of Land Degradation suggests that addressing land degradation could generate an additional $1.4 trillion annually through increased agricultural productivity.

While the economic benefits of restoration are clear, translating them into action requires a global effort. Many nations have adopted Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets to combat degradation and restore damaged lands. However, financial, political, and public support for these initiatives remain inadequate. According to the UNCCD, 1.5 billion hectares must be restored by 2030 to meet global land restoration goals.

A holistic, cooperative approach is necessary to achieve these objectives. The effects of land degradation and desertification don’t stop at national borders. Poor air quality from wildfires in one country can affect neighboring regions, while crop failures due to drought in one part of the world can cause food price increases elsewhere. Addressing land degradation is a shared responsibility that requires a united global effort.

A Defining Moment: COP16 and the Path Forward

COP16 in Riyadh in December 2024 will be a turning point in the global fight against land degradation. The theme of the conference, ‘Our Land. Our Future,’ will emphasize a people-centered approach to land restoration. This will be the largest UN land conference to date, marking the first time it will be held in the Middle East, a region that has already seen the devastating effects of desertification and drought.

The current goal of COP16 is to align efforts to meet the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to land neutrality. Some progress has already been made, such as the Great Green Wall initiative in the Sahel, which aims to restore 100 million hectares of land. Another success is the Changwon Initiative, which has helped 129 countries define Land Degradation Neutrality and work toward zero land degradation. However, there is still much work to be done to meet restoration targets by 2030.

COP16 is an opportunity to strengthen commitments, mobilize financial resources, and engage the private sector in the fight against land degradation. By setting clear targets, promoting innovative solutions, and increasing global cooperation, COP16 could serve as a catalyst for addressing the environmental, economic, and social challenges posed by land degradation, drought, and desertification.

A Shared Responsibility for the Future

The challenge of land degradation is global and interconnected. If we fail to address it now, the consequences will be catastrophic—not just for those directly affected, but for the entire planet. Millions of people are already suffering from the impacts of land degradation, and many more will be at risk in the coming decades.

COP16 in Riyadh represents a crucial moment for the international community to take bold and coordinated action. Only through collective efforts, sustainable land management, and long-term investment in land restoration can we hope to mitigate the far-reaching impacts of land degradation. By doing so, we can safeguard the future of our planet, protect the livelihoods of billions of people, and ensure that future generations inherit a world capable of sustaining them.