RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has urged global policymakers to address land damage and drought as soon as possible ahead of the 16th UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh in December. Saudi Arabia urged delegates at the Kingdom’s “Road to Riyadh” event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, which was opened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to prepare to take decisive action at the upcoming meeting, outlining a roadmap for international action and engagement and unveiling the COP’s thematic program.
According to a news statement announcing the gathering, every second, the equivalent of four football fields of healthy land is damaged, totalling 100 million hectares every year. Incoming COP16 President and Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, stated, “This is a watershed moment for our world. Land restoration is critical for future generations’ prosperity.”
He went on to say, “It is critical that the international community work together to deliver ambitious and long-term solutions that reduce land degradation, combat drought, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources.” “We must strengthen international cooperation to address the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.” The minister emphasised that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 from December 2 to 13 demonstrates its domestic and international commitment to environmental preservation and restoration, citing initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and the G20 Global Land Initiative.
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