The Presidency of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), held by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has reaffirmed the importance of intensifying international cooperation to address the challenges posed by drought and land degradation. This message was delivered during a high-level session titled “Accelerating Global Action from Riyadh to Ulaanbaatar”, held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The session brought together ministers, senior officials, international experts — including a Nobel Laureate — as well as representatives from UN agencies, NGOs, Indigenous peoples, and leaders from the private sector and financial institutions.
The programme opened with remarks from leading international officials, followed by a keynote address that highlighted the crucial role of healthy land and drought resilience as fundamental to global stability and prosperity. The keynote stressed the importance of land as a vital pillar of life on Earth and outlined the severe repercussions of land degradation on food and water security, biodiversity, climate adaptation, and social well-being. It also reviewed progress on drought mitigation measures, including landmark initiatives such as the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.
The event featured two in-depth panel discussions. The first addressed innovative financing for drought resilience, drawing insights from leading economists and heads of international financial institutions. The second focused on accelerating land rehabilitation, underscoring the significance of sustainable rangeland management in improving livelihoods as well as bolstering food and water security. The session concluded with closing remarks by senior UN officials who emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum and ensuring that the commitments made in Riyadh are carried through to Ulaanbaatar for COP17 in 2026.
Participants agreed that the session served as a pivotal moment to renew global political resolve to combat land degradation and drought as interconnected development, environmental, and economic challenges. They highlighted the importance of innovative financing mechanisms as practical tools to mitigate risks and stressed the value of sustained partnerships between the COP16 and COP17 Presidencies to guarantee continuity of efforts.
Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the COP16 Presidency continues to guide the roadmap towards COP17 in Ulaanbaatar in 2026, maintaining momentum and advancing the commitments made in Riyadh. This forward-looking approach aims to reinforce sustainable land management, protect food and water security, and strengthen global resilience for the benefit of future generations.