Ulaanbaatar: Saudi Arabia highlighted the key achievements of its presidency of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), outlining the efforts undertaken during the two-year presidency to follow up on the implementation of initiatives and global efforts on land degradation and drought issues.
According to Saudi Press Agency, during the opening press conference held on the sidelines of the opening of the 17th session of COP in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Dr. Osama Faqeeha said that Saudi Arabia's presidency of COP16 marked a historic and qualitative shift in the global environmental landscape, bringing land degradation and drought to the forefront of international agendas.
He noted that the presidency went beyond hosting the conference in Riyadh, extending two years of sustained international leadership to advance the implementation of COP16 outcomes, strengthen international cooperation, follow up on launched initiatives, and ultimately hand over the presidency to Mongolia.
Dr. Faqeeha highlighted a number of unprecedented achievements at COP16 in Riyadh, including the establishment of a Green Zone alongside the Blue Zone for the first time in the history of the convention. The conference attracted more than 100,000 participants from 170 countries, compared with 7,000 participants at COP15 and 6,000 at COP14. It also featured more than 820 events and 100 pavilions representing 50 countries and 70 regional, international and local organizations.
He added that the success of the Saudi Arabia presidency was reflected in the mobilization of unprecedented financial pledges exceeding $12 billion to combat land degradation. The conference also adopted, for the first time, decisions addressing rangelands, pastoralist communities, and agricultural lands, in addition to the parties' agreement on the elements of a 24-provision decision on drought, representing an important step toward completing the negotiation process at COP17.
Dr. Faqeeha further explained that in 2025 and 2026, Saudi Arabia continued to lead the conference's work and to follow up on the implementation of COP16 decisions through five integrated tracks on land and drought issues. These included expanding diplomatic engagement, advancing the Riyadh Action Agenda, making substantive contributions to international events and the negotiation process, and strengthening interlinkages among drought, water, and food security.
During COP16, Saudi Arabia advanced a number of key initiatives, foremost among them the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, the first global collaborative preparedness initiative, which secured pledges exceeding $12 billion. The Kingdom also advanced the International Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring Initiative in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization.
Saudi Arabia also continued to advance the Riyadh Action Agenda, under which more than 35 initiatives were announced at COP16, bringing the total to 100. These efforts support global action to accelerate the restoration of degraded lands, including forests, rangelands, and agricultural lands, and reduce the impacts of drought. Nearly 15 workshops were organized with stakeholders worldwide to enhance synergies and facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among initiative owners.
On strengthening private-sector engagement, Dr. Faqeeha noted that COP16 saw the largest private-sector participation in the history of UNCCD Conferences of the Parties and hosted the Business4Land Forum for the first time. The forum brought together policymakers and chief executive officers to explore practical measures for restoring degraded land, conserving ecosystems and strengthening drought resilience.
During its presidency, Saudi Arabia worked to build international efforts and promote the outcomes of COP16 through its participation in a range of international and regional events, including the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the Munich Security Conference, ChangeNOW in Paris, the Bonn Climate Change Conference, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville. The Kingdom also organized numerous events, including the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, COP30 in Brazil, the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention in Panama, and the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi.
Dr. Faqeeha emphasized that the Kingdom's handover of the COP presidency to Mongolia represents a transition of the presidency, not an end to the efforts. He stressed that Saudi Arabia will continue to support the implementation of COP16 outcomes, strengthen international partnerships and initiatives, and provide support and advice to the COP17 Presidency, ensuring the sustainability of international participation.
Saudi Arabia participates in COP17 through multiple tracks, including the conference proceedings and negotiation process, organizing events on the official agenda, and showcasing the achievements of the Middle East Green Initiative. The Kingdom's pavilion in the Blue Zone also features a comprehensive program of 40 side events, with the participation of 22 local entities.