The Presidency of the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has called for innovative financing solutions to mitigate the impacts of drought and restore degraded ecosystems around the world. The Presidency emphasized the importance of integrating environmental policy with sustainable investment mechanisms to reinforce international efforts in drought response and land rehabilitation.
This call was made during a high-level panel discussion titled “Innovative Finance for Nature: Building Markets for Landscape Restoration Investments", held as part of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain. The session featured participation from representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and a range of international partners.
Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment and Advisor to the COP16 Presidency, highlighted the importance of building financing tools based on strategic partnerships to provide the necessary incentives for investors and ensure the long-term sustainability of environmental projects. He noted that such models are essential for enhancing the resilience and adaptability of communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Dr. Faqeeha further stated that the session aligns with the objectives of the COP16 Presidency to accelerate global momentum toward achieving the goals of the UNCCD particularly in reducing land degradation and addressing the widespread effects of drought.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assumed the COP16 Presidency during its hosting of the conference in December 2024. The two-year presidency focuses on driving international cooperation on land rehabilitation, restoring ecosystem, and combating the growing threat of desertification and drought.