Context: Recently, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with nearly 200 countries committing to prioritise land restoration and drought resilience.

• The 12-day meeting of parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), known as COP16, concluded as parties tried to finalise a deal.

• It was also the first time a UNCCD COP was held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

Negotiation Outcome:

• The UN-hosted COP16 talks in Saudi Arabia failed to produce a binding protocol on drought response.

• The meeting concluded a day later than planned, with negotiators unable to finalise an agreement.

Progress Made:

• While no binding deal was reached, significant progress was made toward a future global drought regime, with plans to finalise it at COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia.

Drought Impact:

• Droughts, exacerbated by environmental destruction, cost over $300 billion annually.

• By 2050, 75% of the global population is expected to be affected by drought.

Disagreements on Framework:

• Developed nations pushed for a non-binding framework, while African countries and indigenous groups sought a binding protocol to hold governments accountable for drought preparedness.

Financial Support:

• The talks resulted in over $12 billion in pledges, aimed at bolstering drought resilience, alongside the formation of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.

Future Goals:

• The UNCCD emphasised the need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by the decade’s end, requiring $2.6 trillion in global investments.

• Great Green Wall (GGW) Initiative: The African-led GGW initiative secured Euros 11 million from Italy for Sahel landscape restoration and Euros 3.6 million from Austria to enhance coordination across 22 African countries. 

• Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS): Nearly USD 70 million announced for VACS initiative.  

• VACS aims to build resilient food systems with diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops in healthy soils. 

• Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: Caucuses for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities were formed to ensure their perspectives and challenges are represented. 

• The Sacred Lands Declaration, presented at the Indigenous Peoples Forum, greater involvement in global land and drought governance. 

• Business4Land initiative: It highlights the role of private sector advocacy, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, and sustainable finance in tackling Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) challenges. 

• The private sector currently contributes only 6% of financing towards land restoration and drought resilience. 

• UNCCD’s Science-Policy Interface (SPI): Parties agreed to continue the UNCCD’s SPI, established at COP11 (Windhoek, Namibia) in 2013 to translate scientific findings into recommendations for decision-makers.  

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 

• About: The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions, along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

• Purpose and Importance: The UNCCD was established in 1994 to protect and restore land, aiming for a sustainable future. 

• It addresses the consequences of land degradation and drought, including crop failure, migration, and conflict. 

• Objective: Its main goal is to mitigate land degradation and protect land to ensure access to food, water, shelter, and economic opportunities for all people. 

• Legally Binding Framework: It is the only legally binding international agreement to combat desertification and drought. 

• Membership: The Convention has 197 Parties, including 196 countries and the European Union. 

• Principles: It operates on the principles of participation, partnership, and decentralization.