Can We Save Our Soil? UN Summit Seeks Answers #COP16

Poor and degraded land is affecting three billion people around the world, causing an increase in migration, instability, and insecurity among many communities. The climate crisis and unsustainable land practices have intensified droughts by nearly 30% since 2000, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people, especially in the poorest countries.

Land restoration and drought resilience are at the heart of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2-10. The summit will focus on critical issues like land degradation, which impacts 40% of the planet, and escalating droughts that affect millions annually.

Land degradation neutrality, food system transformation, sand and dust storm mitigation, and addressing gender inequality in land management are some of the main topics.