UNCCD COP16 in Saudi fails to reach binding agreement on drought response, progress made for future discussions at COP17.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Saudi-hosted United Nations talks failed to produce an agreement on how to respond to drought, participants said on Saturday (December 14, 2024), falling short of hopes for a binding protocol addressing the growing scourge.

The 12-day meeting of parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), known as COP16, concluded early Saturday (December 14, 2024) morning, one day later than scheduled as parties tried to hammer out a deal.

Prior to the talks, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said the world expected negotiators “to adopt a bold decision that can help turn the tide on the most pervasive and the most disruptive environmental disaster: drought”.

But addressing the plenary before dawn on Saturday (December 14, 2024), Mr. Thiaw acknowledged that “parties need more time to agree on the best way forward”.

An unofficial final decision posted online said the UNCCD, which brings together 196 countries and the European Union, would “continue discussions” on drought based on progress made in Riyadh.

A press release issued on Saturday (December 14, 2024) said countries “made significant progress in laying the groundwork for a future global drought regime, which they intend to complete at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026”.

Droughts “fuelled by human destruction of the environment” cost the world more than $300 billion each year, the U.N. said in a report published on December 3, the second day of the talks in Riyadh.

Droughts are projected to affect 75% of the world’s population by 2050, the report said.

A delegate at COP16 from a country in Africa, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, told AFP that African nations had hoped the talks would produce a binding protocol on drought.

That would ensure “every government will be held responsible” for devising stronger preparation and response plans, the delegate said.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Africa so united, with a strong united front, with respect to the drought protocol.”

Two other COP16 participants, also requesting anonymity, told AFP that developed countries did not want a binding protocol and instead were pushing for a “framework”, which African countries deemed inadequate.

As Saudi capital Riyadh gets ready to host the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Dr Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has praised India’s efforts on combating land degradation and drought. 

Dr Faqeeha, who is also an advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, in an email interview, mentioned the “success stories” from Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. “For instance, in Rajasthan’s Lapodia village, the revival of traditional water harvesting systems has not only raised water tables but also regenerated degraded grasslands, inspiring over 50 neighbouring villages to adopt similar practices,” he said.

Lapodia village today stands out like a green oasis in Rajasthan. This village, with a little over 300 households is just two hours from state capital Jaipur, transformed itself into a drought-proof village mostly through the revival of traditional water-harvesting structures.

Highlighting another Indian success story, Dr Faqeeha spoke about “the remarkable transformation achieved by Renuka Bio Farms in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district”. “It shows how combining traditional wisdom with modern techniques can convert barren wetland into thriving agro-ecological systems”.

 “These stories demonstrate the transformative power of local initiatives in combating land degradation. These initiatives exemplify exactly what we hope to showcase and amplify at COP16 in Riyadh – practical, community-driven solutions that can be adapted and replicated globally,” he said.

Highlighting similarities between Saudi and Indian desert region of Rajasthan, the Saudi minister emphasised  on creating natural opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. 

“The arid climate challenges we face in Saudi Arabia share many similarities with regions like Rajasthan. In Saudi Arabia we are focusing on utilizing renewable water resources, leveraging water conservation practices, and pursuing ambitious rural development programmes.”

“Successful initiatives like the Ghandivan project in Jaipur, which has transformed barren wasteland into a thriving ecosystem through community-driven efforts, offer valuable insights that can be adapted across different regions.”

He added that Riyadh will create platforms for sharing such experiences and best practices to benefit countries, regions, and the planet at COP16.

Speaking on the Saudi’s primary goals for the presidency of COP16, Dr Faqeeha stated that the focused is on raising awareness of the impact of land degradation, drought, and desertification. “The scale of our challenge is stark: globally, we lose land equivalent to four football fields every second, amounting to 100 million hectares annually.”

“COP16 in Riyadh represents a crucial turning point in our global response to land degradation and drought. By bringing together stakeholders from across sectors and generations, we will catalyse a new era of environmental action characterised by concrete commitments, innovative solutions, and meaningful collaboration.”

The Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh from 2 to 13 December 2024.