The 16th session (COP16) of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), aimed at addressing issues related to drought and desertification, will take place from December 2 to 13, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reports UzDaily.uz.
Uzbekistan has already hosted the 21st session (CRIC-21) of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the UNCCD from November 13 to 17, 2023. This session discussed strategic goals, including sustainable land management, promoting gender equality, and supporting women's leadership in agriculture.
COP16, under the slogan "Our Land. Our Future," will bring together 197 parties, including 196 countries and the European Union, along with experts and representatives from civil society.
The conference is expected to take actions on key issues, including:
- Accelerating the restoration of degraded lands by 2030.
- Strengthening resilience to droughts and dust storms.
- Restoring lands and increasing the production of natural food products.
- Ensuring equality in land management and creating economic opportunities.
As part of the event, a summit will be held where global leaders and entrepreneurs will seek solutions to desertification and climate change, with a focus on youth and gender issues.
In preparation for COP16, a strategy has been approved for representing the interests of Central Asian countries at the conference. It has been determined that Kazakhstan will represent the common interests of Central Asia, including priority initiatives and joint positions developed during previous meetings.
**Note:** Currently, around 40% of the world's land has undergone degradation, affecting over 3.2 billion people. Since 2000, drought levels have increased by 29%, and by 2050, three-quarters of the global population may face this issue. Restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 will require active youth engagement, especially in developing regions where 1 billion young people live. Three countries in the Central Asia area partly are located in two big deserts - Kara-Kum and Kyzyl-Kum, There are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 14, 2024