As the global platform for land issues, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the leading forum where governments, businesses, and civil society address today's challenges and plan for a sustainable future for land. One of the three Rio Conventions, alongside those on climate change and biodiversity, the UNCCD recognizes that these issues are interconnected. We cannot address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and land degradation as isolated problems—healthy land is essential to achieving global climate, nature, and sustainable development goals.
At COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024—coinciding with the Convention’s 30th anniversary—discussions will focus on accelerating land and drought resilience efforts. This event will be crucial for advancing the green transition in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Desertification, the degradation of arable land, threatens climate adaptation, food security, and global stability. Degraded lands lose their capacity to absorb carbon emissions, worsening climate change. As fertile land diminishes, communities face conflict and displacement. CGIAR’s science and innovation offer solutions especially to the most vulnerable by optimizing resource use, rehabilitating degraded areas, improving water efficiency, and intensifying food production on existing arable land. Their work supports scalable solutions to stop desertification and promote sustainable land use.
