Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 2 December 2024 - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has assumed the presidency of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), marking a pivotal moment in the fight against global land degradation and drought. Held in Riyadh, this major international gathering brings together policymakers, organizations, and key stakeholders to address urgent environmental challenges.
The official recognition of Saudi Arabia’s presidency took place during the opening plenary session, with the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, outlining an ambitious vision for the conference. In his remarks, Minister AlFadley emphasized the critical importance of restoring 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, aligning efforts with global climate and biodiversity goals. He stressed that decisive action is essential to mitigate the devastating impacts of land degradation, which affects over 3 billion people and costs the world more than $6 trillion annually.
On the sidelines of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), actively engaged with key officials from international organizations and governmental bodies. These strategic interactions reinforced IOFS’s dedication to fostering global partnerships that address the interconnected challenges of climate change, food security, and sustainable development.
Ambassador Aryn met with H.E. Mr. Habib Abid, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Tunisia, to discuss the critical need for joint efforts to enhance regional food security. The dialogue focused on sustainable agricultural practices, building climate resilience, and leveraging innovative environmental solutions to benefit vulnerable communities.
A pivotal meeting was held with H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), to explore potential collaborations in food security, rural development, and climate resilience. The discussions highlighted opportunities to leverage SFD’s financial expertise and technical resources to drive impactful initiatives across IOFS Member States.
In addition, Ambassador Aryn engaged in informal yet meaningful exchanges with H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (Islamic Development Bank Group - isdb.org), and H.E. Dr. Nasr Eddin Al-Obaid, Director-General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD). These discussions provided a platform to reaffirm shared objectives and explore collaborative pathways for advancing sustainable agriculture and food security, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
The productive engagements during COP16 underscored IOFS’s unwavering commitment to building resilient, sustainable food systems through cooperation with international organizations, governments, and development partners.
Ambassador Aryn expressed gratitude for these valuable opportunities to strengthen ties and emphasized IOFS’s steadfast mission to ensure food security and climate resilience for future generations.
