The Alliance at COP16 on Desertification

This session delves into the critical intersections of desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD), climate change, peace and security, and displacement, grounded in the latest data and research. It highlights innovative strategies and solutions emerging from the MENA region, aiming to strengthen regional and international cooperation. Drawing on relevant initiatives such as the Climate Resilience and Security Program (CRSP) and the Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub, the discussion emphasizes actionable pathways to address these complex challenges, fostering resilience and advancing global sustainable development goals.

The session links the CBD COP16 theme, "Peace with Nature," to UNCCD COP16, highlighting sustainable landscapes as tools for reducing conflict and building resilience. It explores environmental peacebuilding, which integrates resource management and conflict resolution to restore lands, support livelihoods, and align conservation with socio-economic goals, advancing the SDGs and Rio Conventions.

The triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation disproportionately impacts smallholder farmers, who produce a third of the world's food. Strengthening their adaptation through secure land tenure and innovations is vital for food security, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience, while boosting biodiversity and ecosystems.