South Africa will participate at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCDD COP 16), taking place in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, from 02 – 13 December 2024.
Bernice Swarts, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), said “the UNCCD COP 16 is expected to decide on collective action to manage drought and restoration of degraded land by 2030 and beyond.”
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, is COP16, the largest UN land conference to date, hosted by the Middle East and North African countries.
South Africa will be looking to secure additional investments and relations with financial mechanisms.
South Africa will also advocate for the adoption of a Protocol in line with the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 19 decision, similar to the approach adopted in the other two Rio Conventions such as the establishment of the Nagoya and Cartagena Protocols under the Convention on Biological Diversity; and the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). T
This is expected to strengthen compliance mechanisms to ensure countries implement their provisions to save lives affected by drought.
A DEFF statement, also said South Africa accepts the Midterm evaluation of the UNCCD 2018 – 2030 Strategic Framework.
The report has raised the significance and the need of a large-scale multisector implementation as a priority; formulation of clear global targets to strengthen commitment and focus into actions; involvement of affected communities and vulnerable people; and fostering synergies at all levels.
“However, South Africa is of the view that more work still needs to be done especially on mobilisation of substantial resources for the implementation of large-scale projects, programmes and drought resilience.”
COP16 will be attended by governments, policymakers, scientists, the private sector and communities.