The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2-13, 2024.
Key Events
A schedule of key events featuring the participation of GEF representatives can be found below.
The GEF delegation's participation at COP16 is highlighted by the launch of the GEF-8 Food Systems Integrated Program, two official side events, participation at the One Water Summit, and more:
Launch of the GEF-8 Food Systems Integrated Program
The GEF-8 Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP), co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was officially launched on Dec. 5, as part of the AgriFood Systems Day. This key event highlighted the vision and strategies of the FSIP in promoting sustainable, regenerative, nature-positive, resilient, inclusive and pollution-free food systems. Read the press release >>
Side Event: GEF-8 and Beyond: Securing a Sustainable Future for Land - Global Environment Facility leaders came together with others to discuss what changes could better enable GEF funds to “move the needle” on sustainable landscape management, in view of commitments under the UNCCD and the upcoming ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund (GEF-9). They called for promoting greater political coherence across sectors, especially action across the energy, agriculture, and environmental sectors. Read full IISD ENB summary >>
Side Event: STAP/GEF - Why Drought Resilience Matters for the Global Environment - The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the GEF organized a side event on drought resilience, focused on integrated, proactive strategies to mitigate drought impacts by bridging efforts across land, water, climate, and biodiversity sectors.
One Water Summit
The One Water Summit follows the scheme of the One Planet Summits held over the last years with the aim to act as incubator for solutions and projects and by stimulating partnerships between state and non-state actors. The GEF CEO delivered a keynote intervention reflecting on financing the preservation of freshwater ecosystems and links to the GEF's work on transboundary cooperation, including an example on the Zambezi River.
Two Decades of GEF Investments in Land
Over the past two decades, the Global Environment Facility has provided $5.2 billion to 674 land degradation projects and programs in 144 countries - leveraging another $35.4 billion in co-financing.
Our new infosheet publication 'Two Decades of GEF Investments in Land' provides a snapshot of the longer GEF Report to UNCCD COP16 and outlines the Global Environment Facility's investments and strategies in globally addressing land degradation, desertification, and drought.
