Events during the 2024 UN Desertification Conference (UNCCD COP 16) addressed, among others, what changes could better enable Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds to advance sustainable landscape management, in view of commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the upcoming ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund (GEF-9). The UN Environmental Management Group (EMG) convened a high-level roundtable to discuss strengthening synergies and coherence within the UN to address sustainable land management (SLM).

During a 4 December event, organized by the GEF, participants called for promoting greater political coherence across sectors, especially across the energy, agriculture, and environmental sectors. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson, called for a unified COP every few years that covers biodiversity, climate, and desertification. Noting that few countries have ministries that combine environment and agriculture, he explained that 80% of land use and deforestation happens because of decisions in the agriculture sector. To increase the effectiveness of GEF funding, Rodriguez said a steering committee would be established to replace GEF operational focal points, currently only represented by environment ministries. He said several ministries, including finance, planning, and agriculture, will now be involved in decisions on how to use GEF resources. 

Rodriguez noted the GEF has only mobilized 5% of all funds raised through international cooperation for implementation of the UNCCD, because donor countries prefer disbursing funds through bilateral rather than multilateral cooperation. However, the GEF has provided USD 5.2 billion for SLM since taking over as the UNCCD’s financial mechanism in 2006. Representatives from recipient countries then spoke about the benefits achieved through GEF funding. For example, they described national soil analyses in Caribbean small island developing States (CSIDS), as well as the provision of farmer training in visual analysis of soil health, provision of PhD scholarships for soil research, and the establishment of regional knowledge networks. Togo reported on the use of gender-disaggregated data for decision making, restoration of degraded lands in seven regions and in a national park, and integration of gender considerations in knowledge management and communication, among others. 

For the first time in its history, the UNCCD hosted a discussion focusing on the connections between fashion and land degradation. The event showcased examples of scalable solutions across the value chain, as well as policy and market mechanisms to foster a more sustainable and land-friendly fashion industry. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, urged participants to avoid buying new clothes if they don’t need them. He said only 2% of clothes are currently recycled, and up to 92 million tons of clothes are thrown away every year, most of which end up in landfills.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), cautioned that textile utility, a measure of how long clothes are used, has gone down 20% since 2015, which means people are throwing away clothes faster, partly due to the convenience of online shopping. She also urged consumers to focus not only on the materials going into the clothes they buy, but also on labor rights and exploitation — issues that disproportionately affect women. Subsequent panel discussions focused on joining forces for land-friendly fashion and on international collaboration and innovative solutions for sustainable fashion. The event was organized by the UNCCD and UNEP, in collaboration with the Sustainable Fibre Alliance, the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia, the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, and others.

A high-level roundtable, organized by the EMG, brought together heads of UN agencies and convention secretariats, among others, to discuss promoting coherence and synergies with respect to SLM, including through joint programming, action on human rights, and working more closely with local stakeholders. Following on similar events at the recent COPs of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UNFCCC, the event also highlighted the importance of country-level coordination for coherent implementation of commitments under these Conventions, as well as other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), such as those addressing pollution and wetland conservation. Participants highlighted the importance of looking to women, children and youth, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities, not only as people to be helped, but also as partners in guiding implementation. The event also addressed how the EMG can support actions under “the Rio Trio” of the climate, biodiversity, and desertification Conventions.

Andersen, who also serves as EMG Chair, welcomed the “particular lens” and “mandate ramp” of each UN entity to address drought. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, welcomed the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership by Saudi Arabia. He said that Saudi Arabia, with others, have pledged USD 2.15 billion to the partnership, and the Arab Coordination Group has pledged another USD 10 billion by 2030.

Participants also mentioned, among others: the importance of engaging with those affected or displaced by natural disasters; the emphasis on human rights and accountability; the importance of achieving local impacts; and the possibility of integrating action through country strategies for implementation of the Rio Conventions, such as National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).