The COP 16 presidency confirms its commitment to Riyadh’s decisions and accelerating the path to combating desertification

The Presidency of the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties affirmed its commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Riyadh decisions issued by the CRIC23 meeting and taking clear steps to support international efforts in Combat desertification and promote land restoration around the world, and support decision-making before the seventeenth Conference of the Parties (“COP17”) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August 2026.

This came during its participation, headed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the twenty-third session of the Committee to Review the Implementation of the Convention (“CRIC23”), which was held in Panama City with the participation of representatives of 197 member states of the Convention.

The Kingdom’s presidency of the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), which the Kingdom holds, continues to lead the global momentum to enhance international cooperation in protecting the land, climate and nature, stressing the importance of ambitious implementation of what has been agreed upon, and accelerating the shift towards a future that is more resilient, more food secure, and more nature-preserving.

This meeting, which is held every two years, comes to build on the great international momentum and radical transformation. In the course of this important international agreement, in light of the great success achieved by the Kingdom in hosting the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16) in the city of Riyadh during the month of December last year, and the important international decisions that resulted from it, in addition to the qualitative initiatives that were announced during the conference.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for the Environment, Advisor to His Excellency the President of the Conference of the Parties, Dr. Osama Faqiha, explained during the session that the decisions that were adopted during the Riyadh Conference in December 2024 laid new foundations for work. Integrated response to land degradation and drought.

Dr. Fakiha stressed that sustainable land management and building resilience are no longer an option, but rather have become a strategic necessity for a more secure and sustainable future, noting that the Panama meeting is an important opportunity to evaluate the progress made in implementing these resolutions and transforming them into concrete policies and practices that guarantee food and water security for communities.

The CRIC23 meeting discussed the implementation of COP16 resolutions, and also reviewed the roadmap for the year after 2030, including specialized sessions on land tenure as a basis for investment in healthy land, the increasing threat of sand and dust storms, and the second meeting of the Gender Forum to enhance the participation of women who are disproportionately affected by land degradation.

The meeting witnessed the presentation of a set of advanced topics, including the launch of new reports on small island developing states and rangelands, in addition to interactive sessions that brought together young people, indigenous peoples and local communities. The first dialogue was also launched within the “Optimism Process” led by the COP16 Presidency and based on the outcomes of the Riyadh Conference, in preparation for the resumption of the drought negotiations at COP17, as the Kingdom leads this path to enhance global consensus and build a higher capacity to withstand the challenges of drought.

This international presence embodies The Kingdom’s commitment to its pioneering role in leading global efforts towards achieving the goals of the Convention to Combat Desertification, and enhancing integration between the three Rio conventions through effective implementation tools that include: the Riyadh Action Agenda, the Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience (“RGDRP), the “Business for Land” Forum (“Business4Land”), and Plans to Accelerate the Implementation of Solutions (“PAS”). The 17th Conference of the Parties (“COP17”) will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in August 2026, which coincides with the International Year of Pastoralists and Pastoralists, at an important political moment to highlight rangelands as a vital component of global environmental and food security.