Despite two weeks of intense negotiations, delegates to the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) were unable to agree on whether to negotiate a framework – or a legally binding protocol for addressing drought worldwide. Negotiations will continue on the basis of the progress made at COP 16, with a view to adopting a decision at COP 17.

Nevertheless, the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting flags, “a major milestone on drought was still achieved with the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.” The Partnership had received more than USD 12 billion in pledges by the end of COP 16. “Although many saw the COP’s inability to adopt a substantive decision on drought as a disappointment, they were still buoyed by the fact that COP 16 launched an important financial legacy that will ensure enhanced work on drought,” the ENB analysis notes.

“Despite the setback on drought, parties reached consensus on a range of important thematic issues related to addressing desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD),” ENB writes.  Decisions were adopted on, inter alia:

• The participation of civil society organizations (CSOs), whereby two new caucuses were established – for Indigenous Peoples and for local communities;
• Gender, seeking to address the data gap on distinguishing how women and men are affected by DLDD; and
• Agriculture and rangelands, expanding the scope of ecosystems addressed by the Convention.

In addition, COP 16 expanded the work of the Science-Policy Interface (SPI) in the number of independent scientists as well as its mandate, “deepening the knowledge base and expertise to reinforce implementation of the Convention.” “At the same time,” ENB notes, “the official adoption of the Dialogues and Declarations from the various caucuses and groups (including youth, civil society, business, and Indigenous Peoples) help to illustrate the Convention’s long-term commitment to ensuring the inclusion of diverse perspectives,” ensuring it remains a “People’s Convention.”

UNCCD COP 16 marked UNCCD’s 30th anniversary. It convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December 2024. [ENB Coverage of UNCCD COP 16]