Land restoration and a reform of global food systems need to be implemented urgently in order to effectively address climate change and biodiversity loss, according to researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in collaboration with the nonprofit Aeon Collective.
A policy paper issued by the group, Bending the Curve: A Call to Action on Land Restoration and Sustainability, outlines a series of measures that can be introduced to halve degraded land by the mid part of the decade, and address food insecurity, water resources and carbon sequestration.
‘Land degradation is not merely a consequence of climate change but also a significant driver of it,’ the report states. ‘Degraded lands lose their ability to sequester carbon effectively, intensifying global warming. They also produce lower crop yields which lead to increasingly unsustainable agricultural practices.’
The paper was launched at UNCCD COP16, which runs until 13 December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Recommended measures include:
- Strengthen International Collaboration: Propose an Integrated Conventions Panel to harmonise climate, biodiversity, and land policies, ensuring joint recommendations and robust accountability.
- Leverage Technology and Data: Utilize AI and earth observation technologies for real-time monitoring and develop a global standard for land health assessments.
- Empower Local Communities: Incorporate indigenous knowledge and create inclusive governance models. Support smallholder farmers with access to land tenure, markets, and sustainable agricultural tools.
- Promote Sustainable Food Systems: Prioritize regenerative agriculture, reduce food waste by 75% by 2050, and encourage dietary shifts toward plant-based foods and sustainably sourced seafood.
- Set Ambitious Post-2030 Targets: Commit to halving degraded land by 2050 and achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030, aligning these targets with global climate and biodiversity policies.
- Mobilise Innovative Financing: Establish Green Bonds and Sustainable Land Investment Funds, while exploring mechanisms like debt-for-nature swaps and blended finance to fund restoration projects in developing nations.
‘Global challenges’
“Food systems are not just another environmental issue; they are central to our global challenges of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss, and are fundamental for our development,” commented KAUST professor Fernando Maestre, one of the authors of the paper.
“While there are already established international agreements for climate action and biodiversity, food systems remain critically under-addressed by the international community.”
Elsewhere, Princess Noura bint Turki Al Saud and Princess Mashael bint Saud AlShalan, co-founders of Aeon Collective, added that Aeon’s visition is to “transform sustainability from an aspiration into a reality where Saudi Arabia leads by example”. Read more here.
