December 2024

The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) is underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024. This milestone event marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention, with the theme "Our Land. Our Future" emphasizing the critical role of land restoration in addressing global environmental challenges, including desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD).

Local and Regional Governments: Bridging Global Goals and Local Realities

Local and regional governments (LRGs) are uniquely positioned to address the urgent issues of desertification, land degradation, and drought, thanks to their proximity to affected communities and their expertise in land use planning, water management, and ecosystem restoration. Their role in bridging urban and rural challenges is increasingly recognized as indispensable for achieving global sustainability goals.

The strong rise in demographic development calls for new ways to address urbanization–for a model that cares about greenhouse emissions and sustainable land use, and underscores the need for integrated urban-rural approaches. LRGs’ capacity to contribute to the global design of solutions and processes, thus implementing these solutions on the ground through sustainable land management and water management makes them essential partners in tackling desertification and its cascading effects on food security, water scarcity, and displacement.

A Platform for Multilevel Governance and Action

The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), facilitated by UCLG, and in partnership with ICLEI, is mobilizing efforts to elevate LRGs’ voices at COP16 on the agenda of Desertification. Culminating in the Mayors’ Forum on December 6, this event will showcase the political commitment to generate transformative action, and coordinate territorial actors that provide local solutions to desertification, sustainable land management, and water security. This forum will spotlight in particular urban-rural linkages, sustainable development around water, and the recovery of degraded ecosystems as critical pathways to addressing Combat against Desertification and achieving the UNCCD’s objectives.

Aligning Desertification with the Loss and Damage Agenda

For LRGs, desertification, land degradation, and drought is intricately tied to the broader Loss and Damage agenda, addressing both reversible and irreversible impacts of climate change. Rural and Urban areas, reliant on surrounding Nature and Biodiversity, face heightened vulnerabilities when ecosystems are degraded. Recognizing these connections, COP16 provides an opportunity to align land restoration with climate resilience and the global Loss and Damage framework.

The GTF is advocating for systemic integration of LRG perspectives into the UNCCD process, as well as for accessible funding, to transform engagement in local action, ensuring that local realities and actionable solutions inform global strategies.

Highlights of the Global Taskforce at COP16

The GTF and its partners have organized several key events during COP16 to emphasize the role of LRGs:

• December 5: 

  • 08:00–09:30: World Economic Forum session, "From Sand to Soil: Nature Positive Approaches to Urban Desertification" (upon invitation only)

  • 09:30–11:30:Site visits highlighting Riyadh’s local land management initiatives.

  • High Level Mayoral Dinner

• December 6

  • 09:00–11:00: High-Level Working Session on the roadmap and engagement of LRGs in the Desertification and Land Degradation program. This session will involve the LRGs constituency and other stakeholders in developing strategic alignments within the UNCCD framework.

  • 13:00–15:00: Mayors’ Forum. This session, organized in collaboration with the GTF, ICLEI, UN Habitat and UNCCD, will feature mayors and governors building political rapport towards a Declaration and Call for Engagement.

Local and Regional Governments united against drought and desertification: Declaration and Call for Engagement

The Combat against Desertification must be rooted in a holistic approach, integrating a comprehensive vision of a universal justice for development that can achieve a true ecological transformation that is underpinned in the Loss and Damage agenda of Local and Regional Governments.

The Declaration and Call for Engagement advocates for systemic engagement of LRGs in global UNCCD processes, highlighting the need for capacity building, financial support, and integration of local perspectives into national and international frameworks. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and grassroots action, the Call seeks to empower LRGs to lead in building resilient communities and contributing to combat against desertification, land degradation, and drought.

As COP16 unfolds, local and regional governments remain steadfast in their commitment to driving sustainable solutions, ensuring that no community is left behind in the global fight against land degradation and its far-reaching impacts.

Read more:

Launch of the Call to Deliver within the COP29 in Baku