What is UNCCD COP16? Spotlight on the ‘Third COP’ and India’s Key Role
- Muhammad Ahmad
- Dec 2, 2024
- 2 min read
UNCCD COP16 opens in Riyadh, highlighting global efforts to combat desertification, with India leading the way
The two-week conference runs from December 2 to 13
Defining the ‘Third COP’: The UNCCD COP addresses desertification, land degradation, and drought, distinct from climate (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (CBD) COPs.
India’s Contribution: India’s Aravalli Green Wall Project targets 1.15 million hectares of land restoration.
Global Event: Representatives from 197 nations gather for this landmark two-week event in Saudi Arabia.
The sixteenth Conference of Parties (COP16) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) begins today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and runs through December 13. Often overshadowed by its counterparts—the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP—this “third COP” focuses on the critical yet under-recognized challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought.
Marking its 30th anniversary, the UNCCD unites 197 member nations in Riyadh for the first time in West Asia to tackle these pressing issues. Leading India’s delegation, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will present the Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP) on the opening day, December 2.
Desertification affects over 25% of Earth’s land, threatening global food security, water supplies, and biodiversity. As a country where nearly 30% of the land faces degradation, India’s innovative AGWP offers a blueprint for scalable solutions to reverse this trend. COP16 provides a critical platform for sharing such strategies, enabling global collaboration to combat these challenges.
What makes the Aravalli Green Wall Project a standout initiative?
Scope: Targets 1.15 million hectares of degraded land across four Indian states.
Technological Edge: Employs GIS tools for water resource management and afforestation planning.
Community-Centric: Integrates local communities in every step to ensure sustainable outcomes.
Eco-Restoration: Focuses on indigenous species to bolster biodiversity.
Speaking about AGWP, an Indian delegate emphasized its transformative potential: “This initiative exemplifies the power of combining technology, tradition, and community to restore ecosystems while creating green jobs.”
India’s presentation on the conference’s opening day underscores its growing leadership in sustainable land management. As the conference continues over the next two weeks, discussions will explore actionable solutions to desertification, with India’s model as a hopeful beacon.
UNCCD COP16 represents a pivotal moment for addressing one of the planet’s most overlooked environmental crises. As global attention turns to Saudi Arabia, this ‘third COP’ seeks to redefine priorities and set the stage for a sustainable, resilient future.