RIYADH: An international conference under the United Nations concluded in the capital city of Saudi Arabia after charting an action plan to tackle land degradation, desertification and drought in the world.
Representatives from almost 200 countries attended the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
“Today, history has been made”, said Oliver Tester from Australia, a representative of Indigenous Peoples. “We look forward to championing our commitment to protect Mother Earth through a dedicated caucus and leave this space trusting that our voices be heard.”
Nations also made significant progress in laying the groundwork for a future global drought regime, which they intend to complete at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.
Some of the decisions made at the conference created new topics such as environmentally sustainable agrifood systems and rangelands, which cover 54 per cent of all land.
The meeting also marked a turning point in raising international awareness of the pressing need to accelerate land restoration and drought resilience, according to COP16 president, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley.
“We hope the outcomes of this session will lead to a significant shift that strengthens efforts to preserve land, reduce its degradation, build capacities to address drought, and contribute to the wellbeing of communities around the world,” he said in closing remarks.
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