Saudi Arabia highlights landmark COP16 achievements ahead of presidency handover to Mongolia
ULAANBAATAR — Saudi Arabia mobilized more than $12 billion in financial pledges to combat land degradation during its nearly two-year presidency of COP16, which also saw the Riyadh conference attract more than 100,000 participants from 170 countries. The Kingdom highlighted the key achievements of its presidency of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat…
Saudi Arabia showcased significant accomplishments during its tenure as the host of COP16, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, before transferring the presidency to Mongolia. The conference in Riyadh drew over 100,000 participants from 170 nations, a stark contrast to the 7,000 and 6,000 attendees at its predecessors COP15 and COP14, respectively.
The event spanned more than 820 sessions and featured 100 pavilions, with involvement from 50 countries and approximately 70 regional, international, and local organizations.
Throughout its presidency, Saudi Arabia successfully mobilized more than $12 billion in financial commitments to combat land degradation. This included the establishment of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which garnered commitments exceeding $2 billion, as well as the International Initiative for Early Warning for Sand and Dust Storms.
Additionally, the Riyadh Action Agenda evolved from an initial 35 initiatives to 100, focusing on the restoration of degraded forests, rangelands, and agricultural lands, while simultaneously mitigating drought impacts.
A novel feature of COP16 was the introduction of a Green Zone adjacent to the traditional Blue Zone, marking the first time this distinction was made at a UNCCD COP conference. The summit also witnessed the highest private-sector participation in the history of UNCCD COP meetings, including the inaugural Business for Land Forum.
Dr. Osama bin Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environment, emphasized that the presidency highlighted land degradation and drought as critical issues on the global stage. He further clarified that the transfer of presidency to Mongolia signifies a transition rather than the cessation of Saudi Arabia's commitment, as the country remains dedicated to advancing COP16 outcomes and international initiatives.
Looking ahead to COP17, Saudi Arabia will continue its participation in the conference proceedings and negotiations, hosting events aligned with the official agenda and spotlighting the achievements of the Middle East Green Initiative. The Kingdom's pavilion within the Blue Zone will also host 40 side events, each bringing together 22 local entities.
Written by urgent.news from Saudi Gazette's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
