COP16 on Desertification: where do we stand?

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After the COP16 on biodiversity in Cali, Colombia, and the COP29 on climate in Baku, Azerbaijan, the COP16 on desertification began on 2 December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNCCD) addresses key issues such as combating drought and promoting agroecology, in a context where desertification often remains under-reported compared to other UN conventions. Founded in 1994, the UNCCD is the only legally binding agreement that links ecological dynamics with social and economic development. With 197 signatories, including the European Union, it stands out for its commitment to countering soil degradation at a global level, an issue that directly involves the future of food security and sustainability.

At the COP16 on Desertification, the importance of nature-based solutions to combat land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change is discussed. The approach is twofold, with a negotiation pathway and an Action Agenda interconnected to achieve meaningful results. Intensive agriculture is a key driver of soil degradation, contributing to 80 per cent of deforestation and 70 per cent of freshwater use. Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as the excessive use of fertilisers, destabilise ecosystems. Work at COP16 is focusing on joint initiatives to accelerate soil regeneration by 2030, including ensuring that land continues to provide nature-based solutions for climate and biodiversity.

UNCCD's 2024 report "The Earth story: national experiences with reporting on land degradation and drought" highlights how terrestrial ecosystems are fundamental to sustaining human life. They contribute more than half of the global gross domestic product and encapsulate diverse cultural, spiritual and economic values. Nevertheless, the soils continue to degrade, with knock-on consequences for various species of flora and fauna. A formal definition of land degradation is the reduction or loss of biological or economic productivity and complexity of rainfed croplands, irrigated croplands, grasslands, forests and woodlands due to a combination of pressures, including land use and management practices (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), 1994).

The UNCCD 2024 report highlights how drought is a natural hazard that occurs in almost all climate zones, with severe socioeconomic and environmental impacts on people and places where drought resilience is low. In many areas of the world, droughts are expected to increase in frequency and intensify due to climate change (IPCC 2022). The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 aims to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt the loss of biodiversity. Land degradation thus impacts both natural systems and human health, as well as exacerbating food insecurity and reducing resilience to climate change, often forcing affected populations to migrate.

With the theme "Our Earth. Our Future', COP16 aims to transform the perception of the UNCCD, often considered a 'little sister' to other conventions. The sessions, divided between a Negotiating Track and an Agenda for Action, aim to achieve concrete outcomes, including the strengthening of women's rights on earth and the involvement of youth in the creation of sustainable jobs. In addition, COP16 will see the participation of the Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione (NRD) of the University of Sassari and other academic and scientific institutions. Among the scheduled events, a focus on research and education as tools to combat desertification and land degradation. Desert greening and sustainable use of resources will also be discussed, emphasising the importance of a robust dialogue between science, policy and practice to address global challenges.

The choice of Riyadh as the venue for COP16 is symbolic: located in one of the regions most affected by desertification, it represents a unique challenge and opportunity for Saudi Arabia, which is hosting an event of this magnitude for the first time. In this context, one of the key reports that provides a scientific basis for the COP16 negotiations is "Stepping Back from the Precipice: Transforming Land Management to Stay Within Planetary Boundaries", which analyses the planetary boundaries and charts a path to address the global land management crisis. According to Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, "Riyadh 2024 should mark a turning point for the global agenda on land and resilience to drought". This event could represent a decisive step in the fight against land degradation, which is crucial to secure the future of our planet and generations to come.