COP16 Riyadh

The Conference of the Parties (COP16) Riyadh is the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from December 2-13, 2024, with the participation of 197 countries worldwide. The conference is concerned with protecting the environment at various levels.

COP16 Riyadh marks the first UNCCD conference to be held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Covering an area of approximately four hundred thousand m², the event featured an agenda and activities aimed at driving multilateral action on land degradation, drought, and desertification while introducing the concept of the Green Zone.

The COP16 Riyadh aims to contribute to accelerating global initiatives to restore soil fertility, support capacities to combat drought, and rehabilitate ecosystems while focusing on global efforts to address soil degradation.

COP16 Riyadh included forums, events, and ministerial dialogues, in addition to announcing numerous actions and initiatives aimed at addressing challenges related to land degradation and drought, including:

Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership: Launched by Saudi Arabia to accelerate international efforts to address drought challenges while ensuring a cohesive global approach to combat this global crisis proactively.

One Water Summit: Held to discuss global water scarcity, related challenges, and support for global water governance. It was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince and prime minister, on December 3, 2024. The summit was co-chaired by the Crown Prince, French President Emmanuel Macron, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum: Attracted policymakers, business leaders, and experts from around the world. It provided visitors with the opportunity to explore progress in the initiative's energy and environmental tracks, as well as to exchange practices and future projections.

The Second International Forum on Afforestation Technologies: Held in the Green Zone, the forum featured panel discussions designed to explore solutions, innovations, and lessons learned from global afforestation projects. It also showcased scientific research related to land rehabilitation projects worldwide.