Leaders from the BRICS nations have issued a joint statement calling for increased financial resources and greater collaboration to address land degradation, desertification and drought.
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates made the call ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), which takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2-13.
‘Serious threats’
In their statement, the leaders noted that environmental challenges are “posing serious threats to the well-being and livelihoods of people and the environment“, stressing the need for “integrated policies” to tackle these issues, which are in many cases interconnected.
Land degradation trends currently impact 40% of the planet and are putting the livelihoods of 3.2 billion people at risk, the leaders noted.
‘New partnerships’
“At COP16 in Riyadh, we will work to forge new partnerships that can accelerate land restoration and drought resilience efforts, particularly in vulnerable regions,” commented Dr. Osama Faqeeha, deputy minister for environment at Saudi Arabia’s ministry of environment, water and agriculture, and an advisor to the COP16 Presidency.
“Land degradation, drought and desertification impact almost every corner on the planet, exacerbating forced migration and worsening global food and water insecurity. It is imperative the international community address the root causes of these issues at the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh.”
COP16 in Riyadh is set to be the largest UNCCD conference to date and will introduce a dedicated space to foster collaboration, especially involving the private sector, in advancing land restoration initiatives.
The conference aligns with the UNCCD’s ambitious goal to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. According to the UNCCD, every dollar invested in land restoration can yield up to $30 in economic returns.
“Saudi Arabia welcomes the BRICS leaders’ statement on the critical issue of land degradation as it reflects the increasing urgency to slow and ultimately reverse the trend of degrading land worldwide,” Faqeeha added. Read more here.
