The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between December 2-13, 2024. Marking the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, this significant event focused on developing new global strategies to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought, while paving the way for partnerships at both local and international levels.
Key Topics and Objectives
During the conference, participants discussed primary targets, such as restoring 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, taking measures to enhance resilience against drought, and encouraging secure land rights. Attendees also assessed the achievements of the past three decades, emphasizing the need to scale up successful initiatives and attract greater investment.
From the MEWA region, Uğur İbrahim Altay,Mayor of Konya and UCLG Term President for 2023-2024; Mohammad Saadie, President of the Union of Dannieh Municipalities and UCLG-MEWA Honorary President; Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, Mayor of Selçuklu; and Zinnur Büyükgöz, Mayor of Gebze, drew attention with their remarks, underscoring the importance of global local government networks.
UCLG-MEWA delegation stressed the role of local governments in combating desertification and land degradation. During the session on “Combating Desertification in Türkiye and Carbon Sinks,” Dr. Mehmet Duman shared Türkiye’s experiences in the fight against desertification, while in the session on “The Roles of Central and Local Governments in Fighting Desertification and Land Degradation,” Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı highlighted the significance of green areas by stating, “We convert grass, sawdust, fruit, and vegetable waste collected from our parks, marketplaces, and bazaars into compost used for green areas and in tree and sapling maintenance.” In the same session, Dr. Reem Abusamra underlined the importance of cooperation among central and local governments in this field.
High-Level Sessions and Mayors’ Forum
A standout event offered within the scope of the conference was the Mayors’ Forum organized by the UCLG. Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay and Mohamed Saadie, took part in this forum, discussing the strategic role of local governments in preventing land degradation and promoting sustainable land management. Presentations delivered at the UNCCD COP16 High-Level Working Group on Desertification also shed light on global collaboration.
Bilateral Meetings and New Partnerships
During its visit to Saudi Arabia, UCLG-MEWA delegation held bilateral meetings with Turkish Ambassador to Riyadh, Prof. Dr. Emrullah İşler, the UN-Habitat Saudi Arabia Team, and UN-Habitat Representative for Iraq and Yemen, Mr. Muslim Qazimi. These discussions focused on the strategies for combating desertification and land degradation, as well as potential collaborations and new projects with UCLG-MEWA.
While UNCCD COP16 provided a roadmap for concrete actions at both local and international levels, it also represented a significant step forward in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The conference served as an inspiration for future collaborations and initiatives aimed at combating desertification and promoting sustainable land use.