Farmers from Africa

16th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD (COP 16)

2–13 December 2024 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

UN Convention to Combat Desertification – UNCCD

About

Convening in Riyadh, delegates will undertake a midterm evaluation of the UNCCD 2018−2030 Strategic Framework, adopt the UNCCD’s biennial budget, and negotiate decisions around the sustainable use of land.

African farmers

Alamy Stock Photo

On 17 June 2024, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) marked the 30th anniversary of its adoption. By signing and ratifying the Convention, 196 governments and the European Union committed to combat land degradation and to tackle the scourge of drought.

Thirty years later, the UNCCD has raised awareness about desertification, land degradation and drought, has pioneered efforts to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN), and has embarked on a number of groundbreaking thematic policy frameworks addressing drought, gender, land tenure, sand and dust storms, and desertification, land degradation and drought as a driver of migration.

Despite these efforts, the planet continues to lose 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land each year. There is a growing scarcity of fertile land and droughts are increasing in frequency and severity, exacerbated by climate change, conflict and competition for scarce natural resources. And women and girls in rural areas are affected first…and worst.

It is in this context that the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP 16) will convene under the theme “Our Land. Our Future.” COP 16 will undertake a midterm evaluation of the 2018−2030 Strategic Framework, adopt the UNCCD’s biennial budget, and negotiate with a view to adopting decisions on:

  • accelerating restoration of degraded land between now and 2030;
  • boosting drought preparedness, response and resilience;
  • ensuring land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions;
  • boosting resilience to sand and dust storms;
  • scaling up nature-positive food production by protecting and restoring grasslands and rangelands;
  • enhancing ongoing efforts to address desertification/land degradation and drought as one of the drivers that causes migration;
  • strengthening women’s right to land tenure to advance land restoration; and
  • promoting youth engagement, including decent land-based jobs for youth.

For the first time, the COP will include an Action Agenda, with voluntary commitments and actions and thematic days focused on:

  • Land Day on 4 December will focus on the importance of healthy land for combating climate change, creating jobs and alleviating poverty, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions, land restoration, and private sector engagement. 
  • Agri-food System Day on 5 December will highlight sustainable farming practices for resilient crops and healthy soils while protecting ecosystems. 
  • Governance Day on 6 December will address inclusive land governance.
  • People’s Day on 7 December will focus on the role of youth, women and civil society in decision-making.
  • Science, Technology and Innovation Day on 9 December aims to accelerate scientific solutions for land health and resilience. 
  • Resilience Day on 10 December will focus on policies and technologies to build societal and planetary resilience in the face of climate change.
  • Finance Day on 11 December will engage financial stakeholders to showcase innovative funding mechanisms and partnerships for land and drought resilience initiatives.

The COP is the UNCCD’s main decision-making body. It is comprised of all parties and is responsible for guiding the Convention so that it can respond to global challenges and national needs. The COP is mandated to review reports submitted by the parties detailing how they are carrying out their LDN commitments and make recommendations on the basis of these reports. It also has the power to amend the Convention or to adopt new annexes. The COP has been meeting biennially since 2001.

UNCCD COP 16 will convene in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December 2024. The 22nd meeting of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 22) and the 16th meeting of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST 16) will also convene.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting are Pam Chasek, Ph.D.; Marc Calabretta; Suzi Malan, Ph.D.; Mika Schröder, Ph.D; and Liz Willetts. The Digital Editor is Anastasia Rodopoulou. The Editors are Lynn Wagner, Ph.D.; and Pam Chasek, Ph.D.

View past and future events

Past event

Organizational Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification

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1st Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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2nd Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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1993 Year-end Update of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification

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3rd Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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4th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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5th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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UN General Assembly Discussions on UNCCD

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1994 Year-end Update of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification

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6th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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7th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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1995 Year-end Update of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification

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8th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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9th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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10th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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Resumed 10th Session of the of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the International Convention to Combat Desertification

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UNCCD COP 1

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UNCCD COP 2

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UNCCD COP 3

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UNCCD COP 4

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UNCCD COP 5

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UNCCD CRIC 1

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UNCCD COP 6

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Workshop on "Forests and Forest Ecosystems: Promoting Synergy in the Implementation of the Three Rio Conventions"

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UNCCD CRIC 3

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UNCCD COP 7

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UNCCD CRIC 5

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UNCCD COP 8

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1st Extraordinary Session of the Conference of the Parties (ExCOP) to the UNCCD

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High-level Policy Dialogue “Coping with Today’s Global Challenges in the Context of the UNCCD Strategy”

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UNCCD CRIC 7 and 1st Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-1)

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UNCCD COP 9

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UNCCD CRIC 9 and 2nd Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-2)

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UNCCD COP 10

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3rd Special Session of the UNCCD Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-3)

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11th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 11) of the UNCCD

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11th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP 11)

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4th Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-4) and UNCCD 3rd Scientific Conference

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13th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 13) to the UNCCD

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12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP 12)

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15th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 15) to the UNCCD

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13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP 13)

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17th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17) to the UNCCD

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14th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP 14)

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19th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 19) of the UNCCD

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2nd Extraordinary Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD

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15th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD (COP 15)

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21st Session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC-21)

Upcoming event

16th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD (COP 16)

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Event organised by

Participants

Negotiating blocs
European Union
Non-state coalitions
Farmers

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