#Saudi Arabia #Riyadh #UNCCD COP16 #Riyadh Action #Land Governance

The Riyadh Action Agenda: A New Era of Land Governance

The recently commenced Riyadh Action Agenda at the UNCCD COP16 is setting a new benchmark in global governance, particularly in the fight against land degradation, drought, and desertification. Leaders and stakeholders from various sectors gathered on Governance Day, marking a significant step toward mobilizing efforts aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and ensuring the resilience of communities affected by these pressing challenges.

Understanding the Riyadh Action Agenda

This agenda emerges as a key initiative driven by the Saudi Arabian presidency of the UNCCD, underscoring the pivotal role of governance in addressing environmental issues. The primary objective is to enhance funding mechanisms for restoration projects and ensure measurable progress towards the ambitious target of restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by the year 2030. During the proceedings, a clarion call was made for local and regional governance structures to implement a roadmap aimed at combatting the pernicious effects of land degradation and drought.

Among the crucial discussions was a Mayors Forum, which emphasized local governance’s responsibilities in the battle against these challenges. Here, current and former mayors alongside policymakers and experts exchanged views on enhancing collaboration and inclusive funding strategies to tackle land degradation effectively.

A notable quote from Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and Co-President of the United Cities and Local Governments, highlighted the necessity for meaningful resources to facilitate effective actions against environmental degradation, stating, "Meaningful actions demand meaningful resources."

The Stakes In Terms of Urbanization

The influence of urbanization cannot be overstated as growing cities, with an expected global population increase to 68% residing in urban areas by 2050, place escalated pressure on surrounding rural areas and resources. As articulated by Walid Al-Akrish, a representative from the Riyadh municipality, the lurking challenges due to urban growth—like unsustainable practices—are already accelerating biodiversity loss and soil degradation. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for local governance structures to step up resource management to meet the demands of a burgeoning population.

Enhanced Urban-Rural Connections

Parallelly, a session on expanding urban-rural connections was critically assessed for its frameworks and financial instruments that can strengthen ties between rural producers and urban consumers. Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, shed light on the essentiality of localizing decision-making processes to enhance synergies between urban areas and rural agriculture. He stressed the urgency of addressing land degradation comprehensively by developing collaborative efforts across sectors.

The Path Forward

With the Riyadh Action Agenda already in motion, it seeks to serve as a conduit for a wide range of stakeholders including nations, the private sector, financial institutions, and international organizations, urging them to back ongoing initiatives aimed at combatting land degradation. This includes key initiatives like the Middle East Green Initiative and the recently established Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership. As the COP16 progresses, approximately $12 billion has been pledged by leading international organizations, reinforcing the significance of financial institutions and private sectors in confronting these environmental issues.

The conference, held from December 2 to 13, 2024, at Boulevard Riyadh World, marks the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD under the theme “Our Land. Our Future,” seeking multilayered strategies on pressing matters such as drought resilience and effective land ownership.

In conclusion, the Riyadh Action Agenda is proving to be more than just a theoretical framework; it's gathering momentum and driving real change by fostering collaboration among key actors in environmental preservation. The commitment shown at COP16 can herald a significant shift towards enhanced governance practices in land management that prioritize sustainability, community resilience, and gender inclusivity, paving the way for a robust response to one of the most critical issues facing our planet today.