The presidency of the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressed that tackling the challenges of drought and food security demands integrated and proactive responses. This includes early prediction, preparedness, and empowering multi-stakeholder partnerships to enhance the resilience of nations and communities in the face of climate change.
The remarks came during a dialogue session titled "The Global Food Security Initiative," held in Seville, Spain, as part of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4). The session featured a panel of international experts and environmental specialists.
Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment and Advisor to the COP16 Presidency, highlighted during the session that confronting drought necessitates a qualitative shift in financing models and international mechanisms. He called for the adoption of proactive tools, flexible institutional structures, and cross-sectoral partnerships to ensure long-term adaptation and mitigate the impacts of climatic and environmental crises.
Dr. Faqeeha added that these dialogue sessions underscore COP16's commitment to continuously discuss critical environmental issues, supporting innovation, incentivizing investments in land preservation, and fostering regional and international cooperation in drought-affected areas. He emphasized the importance of building on the momentum gained since the conference's launch in Riyadh late last December, by solidifying effective partnerships and stimulating international cooperation to reduce land degradation and empower the most vulnerable communities.
The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture's participation aligns with Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to bolster global climate and environmental action. This is further reinforced by empowering the "Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership," launched by the Kingdom in Riyadh in December 2024. The initiative aims to shift from reactive drought response to proactive planning and prevention.