COP16: Major commitments to combat drought and desertification
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened on 2 December 2024 in Riyadh, bringing together representatives of the 197 Parties. This event emphasizes the urgent need to address the growing global threat of drought and land degradation.
From the opening, key announcements marked the discussions:
- Launch of the Global Drought Atlas : This innovative tool highlights systemic drought risks affecting critical sectors such as energy, agriculture, water transport and trade.
- Creation of the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO) : This global platform, powered by artificial intelligence, provides decision-makers with actionable data to strengthen community resilience to drought.
- Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience : This project, announced by Saudi Arabia, mobilizes $2.15 billion to support 80 countries particularly vulnerable to drought, through public and private financing.
In a report entitled "Investing in the Future of Land" , the UNCCD highlighted the need for $1 billion a day between 2025 and 2030 to counter desertification and its impacts. In addition, the study The Economics of Drought Resilience revealed that underestimating the costs of drought leads to a lack of sustainable investment and insufficient planning.
COP16 in Riyadh is thus positioned as an essential step to strengthen international cooperation in the face of the growing challenges of drought, calling for concerted actions and ambitious investments to protect the land and livelihoods of the most affected populations.
Djamiou ABOUDOU