Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD COP16 Presidency has recently announced the launch of the Riyadh Action Agenda, a landmark initiative that seeks to mobilize state and non-state actors to deliver lasting solutions for land degradation, desertification and drought.
The Riyadh Action Agenda will capitalize on the momentum of COP16 in Riyadh, engaging with several key environmental stakeholders for the two-year duration of Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency to foster tangible action for everyone from farmers to indigenous peoples.
Agriculture remains key driver of land degradation
Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, officially launched the Riyadh Action Agenda during a keynote speech. The launch of the Riyadh Action Agenda took place on the fourth day of COP16 in Riyadh, on Agri-food System Day.
Agriculture is the primary driver of land degradation. Current agri-food systems contribute to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. According to the UNCCD, agriculture accounts for 23 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, 80 percent of deforestation and 70 percent of freshwater use.
“If we are to accelerate land restoration and drought resilience initiatives at the pace and scale required, then is it critical we continue to mobilize and incentivize action long after COP16 in Riyadh ends, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s leadership in land restoration, and leaving a lasting legacy of global change,” stated Faqeeha.
land degradation to raise food prices by 30 percent
A range of other events also took place throughout COP16 to harness multilateral solutions to unsustainable agricultural practices. Discussions spanned an array of meetings, with topics including ways to enhance healthy soils, resilient crops and nutritious food. Agri-food Systems Day also addressed the importance of private sector and farming participation in transforming food systems.
“Around 95 percent of our food comes from the soil, and yet we continue to treat it like dirt. Unsustainable land management, farming practices and industrial-scale profiteering are creating a simply unsustainable pace of land degradation, with every year 24 billion tons of fertile soil being lost. This is a leading cause of global food and water insecurity,” said Dr. Faqeeha.
The UNCCD estimates that by 2050, crop yields could decline by 10 percent globally and 50 percent in the worst-hit regions. This scenario could cause an estimated 30 percent increase in food prices. Meanwhile, growing populations are forecast to increase demand for land and agriculture. “We do not need to reinvent the wheel to deliver urgent solutions to the crises gripping our land and soils. Reinvesting harmful agricultural subsidies could almost immediately provide financial relief for land restoration and reform unsustainable practices,” added Dr. Faqeeha.
Global funding for resilience
Global funding for drought resilience, land restoration and the fight against land degradation received a major boost on the second day of COP16, with over $12 billion now pledged to these causes since COP16 in Riyadh began.
The Arab Coordination Group became the latest institution to pledge major financial backing, with a further $10 billion to combat land degradation, desertification and drought. The additional funding comes on the back of the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, taking place on the first day of COP16 in Riyadh.
The OPEC Fund and Islamic Development Bank also committed $1 billion each to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, alongside the $150 million dollars provided by Saudi Arabia to operationalize the Initiative.
