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ACDD at COP16: Advocating for Sustainable Land Management in North Africa

From December 2 to 13, 2024, the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16-UNCCD) convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the slogan “Our land, our future.” As the first COP held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the event brought together over 20,000 participants from 170 countries, including 3,500 representatives from civil society organisations.

With over 600 events focusing on desertification and its increasing impact on land, ecosystems, and communities, the conference provided a crucial global dialogue and action platform.

Representing Tunisia, an official delegation led by the Minister of the Environment, Mr. Habib Abid, attended the conference. COP16 featured various exhibits, including those from the host country, major international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and private sector stakeholders.

ACDD’s ENGAGEMENT AT COP16

ACDD had participated in several COPs, but it was the first time we had the privilege of chairing a side event titled “Securing Food Systems in North Africa: Prospects for Supporting Agroecology in Public Policies.” This session, organised in collaboration with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory and the Centre d’Actions et de Réalisations Internationale (CARI) from France, provided an opportunity to highlight agroecology’s potential in ensuring food security in arid regions.

In preparation for COP16, ACDD developed a policy brief on integrating Best Practices (BP) to combat desertification (LCD) in North African countries. Additionally, we showcased impactful storytelling from southern Tunisia, featuring rainwater harvesting, livestock farming, and rural women’s contributions to food security. Supported by SouthSouthNorth (SSN) under the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) programme, these videos were produced as part of the “Local Knowledge Mobilisation and Transition Towards Intelligent Climate Resilience” project.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM COP16

Beyond engaging in numerous workshops and networking with global leaders, researchers, and policymakers from Tunisia, COP16 presented several significant outcomes:

Over $12 billion was pledged to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought, focusing on the most vulnerable regions.

The Arab Coordination Group committed $10 billion to support the Riyadh Global Partnership Initiative against Drought, attracting $12.15 billion in funding for 80 of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

Saudi Arabia showcased its ambitious 10-billion-tree planting project, set to transform the Kingdom’s landscape by the year 2100, using cutting-edge technology to amplify its impact and visibility.

REFLECTIONS AND THE ROAD AHEAD

While COP16 did not fully meet its financial mobilisation target of $6 trillion by 2030 to rehabilitate one billion hectares of degraded land, the event successfully fostered collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and strategic initiatives. The hospitality of the host country, coupled with a diverse and rich programme covering ecological, economic, scientific, and cultural dimensions, made this an impactful experience.

For ACDD, COP16 reinforced our commitment to advocating for sustainable land management in North Africa. As we move forward, we will continue to build partnerships, influence policies, and elevate local solutions to global challenges in combating desertification and securing food systems for future generations.