Actions against desertification, drought echoed at UNCCD COP16

The process to deliver on global commitments to tackle desertification, land degradation and drought has commenced at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh.

The conference, which started from 2nd will run through to 13th December with 196 countries and the European Union is expected to deliver in the three areas, which will improve water resilience and help secure strategic autonomy, competitiveness and security.

UNCCD COP 16 is to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience through a people-centered approach.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global voice for land and one of the three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity.

The EU representative,   the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Circular Competitive Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: “The world loses 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land every year – around twice the size of France.”

He said: “Without rich and fertile soils, we have no food. Without healthy land, people lose their livelihoods. Without combating land degradation and enhancing drought resilience, we can’t achieve a competitive and circular economy that guarantees our security.

“The EU is committed to working with international partners and will play a crucial, leading role in the negotiations in Riyadh.”

However, the EU said it will work with international partners to deliver on the global commitments, noting that desertification, land degradation and drought are global challenges that require urgent action and the scaling up of  viable solutions.

“Climate change exacerbates them, aggravating economic, social and environmental problems including poverty, food security, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, migration and forced displacement.   Action to combat drought and land degradation, including improving water resilience, will help secure the EU’s strategic autonomy, competitiveness and security.”