[ECO]The Importance of COP16: Summit Launches Dual Strategy to Combat Land Crisis

[Eco 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The importance of COP16 extends beyond environmental; the conference tackles the economic impact of land degradation and introduces technological solutions.

Saudi Arabia will host an important environmental conference in December 2024, introducing a new dual-track approach to address the escalating global land degradation crisis. The importance of COP16 cannot be overstated, as current data shows land degradation affects 40% of Earth’s surface and impacts over 3.2 billion people worldwide.

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

(UNCCD), scheduled for December 2-13, 2024 in Riyadh, represents a critical juncture in global environmental policy. The importance of COP16 is highlighted by its introduction of parallel Negotiation and Action tracks, combining high-level policy discussions with practical implementation strategies to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought.

The importance of COP16 is particularly evident in regions like the Sahel, where severe land degradation impacts approximately 135 million people across a vast semi-arid belt stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia. Local communities have reported an 80% reduction in agricultural yields over the past decade, leading to increased food insecurity and forced migration. This crisis exemplifies the urgent need for the solutions being discussed at COP16, particularly in scaling up successful initiatives like the Great Green Wall project.

The Great Green Wall, launched in 2007, demonstrates the type of large-scale land restoration that underscores the importance of COP16. This ambitious project, spanning 8,000 kilometers across Africa, has already restored 20 million hectares of degraded land in the Sahel. The initiative combines traditional farming techniques with modern technology to create a mosaic of green and productive landscapes that help stop desertification and improve local livelihoods.

Representatives from Sahel nations will present data at COP16 showing how communities participating in the Great Green Wall project have increased their crop yields by up to 50% through improved soil management and water conservation techniques. Despite these successes, the region still faces significant challenges. Climate scientists estimate that without expanded intervention and increased funding – key topics on the COP16 agenda – the Sahel could lose an additional 30% of its arable land by 2030.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

The Great Green Wall, launched in 2007, demonstrates the type of large-scale land restoration that underscores the importance of COP16. Image Sevgart, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The importance of COP16 in addressing the Sahel crisis is highlighted by its focus on mobilizing financial resources and technological support for affected regions. The conference will specifically examine how to accelerate and scale successful projects like the Great Green Wall, with proposed discussions about increasing international funding from the current $14 billion to the estimated $33 billion needed for complete implementation by 2030.

See also:

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

Recent research from the World Bank estimates that land degradation costs the global economy approximately $490 billion annually through decreased agricultural productivity and ecosystem service losses. These findings emphasize the importance of COP16 in addressing environmental concerns, economic stability, and food security worldwide.

In the Sahel region of Africa, a stark example of severe land degradation impacts approximately 135 million people. Local communities have reported an 80% reduction in agricultural yields over the past decade, leading to increased food insecurity and forced migration. This crisis exemplifies the urgent need for the solutions being discussed at COP16.

The conference’s high-level segment, taking place on December 2-3, will concentrate on three critical areas: drought resilience, financial solutions, and the interconnected impacts of land degradation and drought on forced migration, security, and economic prosperity. Climate scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have established direct links between land degradation and accelerated climate change. They note that degraded lands release stored carbon dioxide while losing their capacity to act as carbon sinks.

However, success stories offer hope. The Great Green Wall initiative in Africa has successfully restored 20 million hectares of degraded land, demonstrating the potential for large-scale restoration projects. In China, the Grain for Green Program has converted over 28 million hectares of cropland and barren hills into forests, significantly reducing soil erosion and improving local biodiversity.

Recent technological advances are revolutionizing land degradation monitoring. Satellite-based systems combined with artificial intelligence now provide real-time tracking of desertification patterns, while drone technology enables precise measurement of soil health and vegetation cover. These innovations underscore the importance of COP16’s focus on technological solutions.

The Action Agenda component features seven themed days, each dedicated to specific aspects of land conservation and restoration:

December 4: Land Day

December 5: Agri-food System Day

December 6: Governance Day

December 7: People’s Day

December 9: Science, Technology and Innovation Day

December 10: Resilience Day

December 11: Finance Day

These sessions will take place in both the Green and Blue Zones, facilitating collaboration between policymakers, scientists, business leaders, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

Dr. ****** Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, emphasized how land degradation connects to broader issues, including food and water security, climate change, regional stability, and human migration patterns.

The introduction of the first-ever Green Zone at a UNCCD COP marks a significant innovation. This dedicated space aims to foster collaboration between scientific experts, business leaders, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the public, bridging the gap between policy decisions and practical implementation.

UNCCD data reveals the urgency of the situation, with approximately 100 million hectares of land facing degradation annually. Drought frequency and intensity have increased by nearly one-third since 2000, highlighting the accelerating nature of these environmental challenges.

The conference, themed “Our Land. Our Future,” coincides with the UNCCD’s 30th anniversary. Beyond addressing immediate environmental concerns, the event will focus on securing adequate funding for land

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

while developing strategies to address sand and dust storms and establishing clear frameworks for land tenure rights.

The post

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

appeared first on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up