#Saudi Arabia #Brazil #UNCCD COP16 #COP30 #Belém

Saudi Arabia Showcases Land Restoration Initiatives at COP30

In a pivotal gathering at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, spearheaded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighted a significant increase in private sector involvement in global land restoration efforts. This event, entitled Land Restoration for Climate – Private Sector Progress and Solutions, served as a platform for unveiling the achievements and future goals of the Riyadh Action Agenda (RAA), which aims to mobilize significant action from both state and non-state actors on land restoration.

The Riyadh Action Agenda has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 40 to 100 initiatives dedicated to restoring degraded land and enhancing drought resilience since its inception at COP16 in Riyadh. Notably, over 300 companies across various sectors—including agriculture, finance, and technology—are actively participating, contributing to 18% of all supporting actions. This increase demonstrates a growing commitment from the private sector to lead in land restoration initiatives.

Land degradation is a pressing global issue, with UN data revealing that approximately one-third of the world's agricultural land is currently compromised due to human activity. This situation has dire implications for 1.5 billion people and results in an estimated economic loss exceeding $300 billion annually in agricultural productivity. Recognizing this urgent challenge, the UNCCD COP16 Presidency has laid out ambitious plans to mobilize 1,000 companies to embrace regenerative business practices by 2030, ensuring their contributions align with global restoration objectives.

Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, the Deputy Minister of Environment in Saudi Arabia and an advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, "It takes a thousand years to create one centimeter of soil and only two years to destroy it." He emphasized that comprehensive strategies across land, ocean, and atmospheric domains are essential. The RAA reflects a strong correlation between national policies, financial backing, and political support, calling for collective action to combat land degradation.

As part of its overarching objectives, the RAA seeks to conserve and restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land, encompassing 250 million hectares of agricultural land and enhancing drought resilience by safeguarding 30% of land and freshwater sources. Significantly, for every dollar invested in land restoration, it is estimated that there are returns between $7 and $30, reinforcing the economic rationale for action.

One prominent aspect of the RAA is the promotion of regenerative agriculture that aims to restore a significant portion of agricultural land, thus reframing the costs associated with land degradation as potential revenue through innovative nature-positive business models. Furthermore, the agenda aims to catalyze financing through blended finance strategies and progressive policy frameworks while leveraging advancements in science and technology for improved monitoring and effective interventions.

A key highlight was the Action Agenda for Regenerative Landscapes, securing an impressive $10 billion in new pledges in addition to $9 billion already mobilized through private sector investments. This brings the total commitments to nearly $19 billion, underscoring the increasing momentum towards business-driven land restoration initiatives.

Nigel Topping, the co-founder and co-CEO of Ambition Loop and a former UN High-Level Climate Action Champion for COP26, commented on the significance of healthy land, referring to it as "the connective tissue between the three Rio Conventions". He asserted that the private sector has a critical role to play in demonstrating a real economic desire to regenerate the Earth's landscapes, with the RAA connecting ambition to concrete actions and scalable solutions to address environmental crises.

The event at COP30 was organized in collaboration with the Action Agenda for Regenerative Landscapes and involved partnerships with major organizations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), representing over 250 global companies, including industry giants like PepsiCo. With transformative innovations on display—from insurance-based soil health technologies to solutions that effectively address climate change—the gathering showcased how land restoration practices are increasingly recognized as a viable and profitable business model beneficial for the environment and society at large.

As the world prepares for UNCCD COP17 and the inaugural Global Stocktake on land, the showcase in Belém marks a significant step forward. The UNCCD COP16 Presidency has reiterated its commitment to keeping land restoration at the core of global climate strategies, fostering broader participation, deepening partnerships, and generating practical solutions to restore ecosystems effectively and sustainably.