Leading global experts and policy-makers on land degradation, drought and desertification discussed the critical value of land to the health of people and the planet at the first Advisory Council meeting ahead of a UN convention that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host in Riyadh from December 2–13, 2024.

The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is being co-organised by UNCCD and the Saudi Arabian government, whose Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng Abdulrahman Alfadley, is the incoming President of UNCCD COP16.

At the meeting, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, UNCCD, provided key insights to the Advisory Council members.

Saudi Arabia’s participants included, Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Affairs Envoy, and Dr Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of environment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Advisor to President of UNCCD COP16.

The council members also discussed ways to generate awareness around the issue of land degradation, desertification and drought and their devastating economic, social and environmental impacts. – TradeArabia News Service