The road to COP16: synergy among conventions paves the way for Riyadh

Special The road to COP16: synergy among conventions paves the way for Riyadh
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The Saudi Pavilion at COP29. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Bin Shulhub)
Special The road to COP16: synergy among conventions paves the way for Riyadh
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Khaled Al-Abdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development during a panel discussion at the Saudi Pavilion. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Bin Shulhub)
Special The road to COP16: synergy among conventions paves the way for Riyadh
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Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman on his way to the Saudi Pavilion at COP29. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman Bin Shulhub)
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Updated 22 November 2024
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The road to COP16: synergy among conventions paves the way for Riyadh

The road to COP16: synergy among conventions paves the way for Riyadh
  • Khaled Al-Abdulkader: Land degradation impacts agricultural systems, soil fertility, and climate stability
  • Al-Abdulkader: If you invest $1 in land restoration, the returns can reach up to $30

BAKU: As the world looks ahead to COP16 in Riyadh, a clear message is emerging from discussions at COP29 in Baku: addressing global challenges requires breaking down silos between conventions on land, climate, and biodiversity. These three pillars are deeply interconnected, and their integration is essential for building a sustainable future.

The importance of land degradation is a recurring theme, with experts pointing to its role as both a symptom and a driver of broader environmental crises.

Land degradation not only diminishes biodiversity but also reduces agricultural productivity and undermines climate resilience, leading to an estimated $10 trillion in annual economic losses, according to the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative.

COP16 aims to position land rehabilitation at the forefront of global environmental policy by emphasizing its cross-cutting role in achieving sustainable development goals.

The intersection of land, climate, and biodiversity

In an interview with Arab News, Khaled Al-Abdulkader, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development, underlined the significance of restoring degraded lands as a cornerstone of integrated environmental action.

“Land degradation impacts agricultural systems, soil fertility, and climate stability. Restoring land not only enhances biodiversity and carbon sequestration but also offers significant economic benefits, creating opportunities for local communities,” he said.

Al-Abdulkader highlighted how Saudi Arabia is implementing initiatives that directly align with the objectives of the UN’s three major conventions: the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Projects such as mangrove restoration and ecosystem rehabilitation illustrate how land restoration can simultaneously support biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, and provide financial returns.

“If you invest $1 in land restoration, the returns can reach up to $30. This demonstrates how land-based solutions can address not only environmental challenges but also economic and social priorities,” he added.

Nature-based solutions: a transformative investment

A panel discussion at the Saudi Pavilion during COP29 also shed light on the potential of nature-based solutions in tackling land degradation and its associated impacts. These involve human interventions that emphasize existing facets of healthy ecosystems.

Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, stressed that sustainable land use and rethinking agricultural practices are critical. “Nature-based solutions, when implemented with societal and environmental safeguards, yield outstanding returns. They represent a transformative investment for both ecosystems and communities,” she remarked.

Schomaker called for agriculture to shift towards more sustainable practices, recognizing its dual role as a contributor to and a victim of environmental degradation. This aligns with the broader push for nature-based solutions that can mitigate climate change, conserve biodiversity, and ensure food security, all while fostering economic resilience.

Saudi Arabia’s role on the global stage

As the host of COP16 in December, Saudi Arabia is poised to bring innovative frameworks to the table. Al-Abdulkader noted that the Riyadh conference will feature groundbreaking initiatives, including the introduction of thematic days focused on land, agricultural systems, innovation, and people.

The Kingdom has already demonstrated its leadership through its commitment to restoring vegetation cover and promoting sustainable land use. Such efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes environmental sustainability alongside economic diversification.

The need for global synergy

COP16 in Riyadh will serve as a platform to enhance collaboration across borders, ensuring that land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate action are addressed in tandem.

“We need to foster more synergy among the conventions,” Al-Abdulkader emphasized. “This includes not just technical cooperation but also mobilizing financial resources, improving institutional capacities, and ensuring that every stakeholder — from governments to local communities — is involved.”

The call for enhanced cooperation was echoed by Manual Pulgar-Vidal, former president of COP20, who emphasized the need for actionable targets that integrate the efforts of all three conventions. “The Riyadh conference will be an opportunity to launch a comprehensive action agenda that ensures land restoration remains a global priority,” he said.

The road ahead

With the road to COP16 now clearly mapped out, the focus is on uniting nations, organizations, and individuals to address the challenges of land degradation and its ripple effects. The discussions at COP29 have laid the groundwork for a future where land restoration is recognized not only as an environmental necessity but also as an economic opportunity.

The Riyadh conference promises to be a milestone in global environmental cooperation, with the potential to set new standards for integrating land, biodiversity, and climate objectives.


Syrian Arab Republic president meets with Saudi crown prince in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Riyadh.
Updated 47 min 21 sec ago
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Syrian Arab Republic president meets with Saudi crown prince in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Riyadh.
  • The president is accompanied by the country’s foreign minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani

RIYADH: The President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday on his first foreign trip since taking office, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Syrian Arab News Agency reported the president was accompanied by the country’s foreign minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani.

A picture posted on social media platform X by the Syrian Arab Republic’s presidency showed Al-Sharaa and Al-Shaibani en route to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Sharaa became president after the toppling of the regime of Bashar Assad in December last year.

Last month, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, visited Damascus and said the Kingdom was engaged in talks with the US and European partners to help lift economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian Arab Republic that have left the country’s economy decimated.


Tihama’s climate boosts honey production in Baha

Tihama’s climate boosts honey production in Baha
Updated 02 February 2025
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Tihama’s climate boosts honey production in Baha

Tihama’s climate boosts honey production in Baha

RIYADH: The moderate climate and abundant flowering trees in the Tihama area of the Baha region attract thousands of beekeepers with hives, creating an ideal environment for honey production from seasonal and mountainous blossoms.

Beekeeper Mohammed Al-Zahrani said that migration from the Sarawat Mountains to Tihama is driven by favorable climate, rainfall, and tree diversity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He added that this move revitalizes bees after the ziziphus spina-christi season when their population drops, offering fresh pastures for reproduction.

Beekeeper Ali Al-Ghamdi explained that relocating to the governorates of Qalwa, Al-Hujrah, and Wadi Al-Ahsabah provides bees with a year-round food supply and protection from the cold mountain temperatures that can be fatal.

He stressed that beekeeping requires endurance, knowledge, and experience but remains an important and valuable industry, the SPA reported.

Beekeeper Saleh Al-Omari highlighted the coordination among beekeepers in choosing apiary sites, ensuring proper spacing to prevent crossbreeding, promote nutrition, and avoid disease.

Mohammed Al-Shadwi, chairman of the Beekeepers Cooperative Association in Baha, said around 3,000 beekeepers are registered with the association, including professionals with over 1,000 hives and amateurs with about 100. They represent 16 percent of the Kingdom’s total beekeepers.

The region produces 20 percent of Saudi Arabia’s honey annually, totaling around 1,000 tonnes across 15 varieties, according to the SPA.


Kingdom strengthens cultural ties at Delhi book fair

Kingdom strengthens cultural ties at Delhi book fair
Updated 02 February 2025
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Kingdom strengthens cultural ties at Delhi book fair

Kingdom strengthens cultural ties at Delhi book fair

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is taking part in the New Delhi World Book Fair, being held at Pragati Maidan from Feb. 1-9.

Its involvement is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural cooperation between the Kingdom and India, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The commission aims to highlight Saudi Arabia’s role in the global cultural and literary landscape, raise awareness of its heritage and highlight its publications and contribution to the international literary scene. It also seeks to promote cultural and intellectual exchange between the two countries.

The commission’s pavilion features its literary and cultural initiatives, including “Tarjim” which supports Saudi Arabia’s translation movement. It also hosts sections dedicated to the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language and the King Fahd National Library.

Saudi Arabia was previously guest of honor at the 2024 New Delhi World Book Fair, where it organized various programs and events reflecting the Kingdom’s cultural and creative landscape.


KSrelief’s humanitarian and relief efforts continue

KSrelief’s humanitarian and relief efforts continue
Updated 02 February 2025
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KSrelief’s humanitarian and relief efforts continue

KSrelief’s humanitarian and relief efforts continue

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) humanitarian and relief efforts continue with the distribution of food, hygiene supplies as well as the provision of emergency transport services.

In in Ma’arrat Misrin of Syria’s Idlib Governorate, KSrelief handed out 672 food boxes and 672 hygiene kits as part of the second phase of the food aid and hygiene kit distribution project for populations affected by the earthquake in 2025.

In Lebanon’s Akkar Governorate and Miniyeh district, the aid agency during the past week distributed 175,000 bags of bread to Syrian and Palestinian refugees as well as residents of host communities. The initiative was part of the fourth phase of Al-Amal Charitable Bakery Project in the country.

In the Battagram and Buner districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as well as the Sukkur district in Sindh province of Pakistan, 2,160 food packages were given to families in flood-affected areas as part of the Food Security Support Project 2025

Meanwhile, KSrelief delivered 125 tonnes of dates to Sudan as a gift from the Kingdom.

In north Lebanon, the KSrelief-funded ambulance service of Subul Al-Salam Social Association in the Miniyeh district carried out 61 missions during the past week, including transporting patients to and from hospitals and treating burn injuries.


Female participation in Riyadh camel racing event

Female participation in Riyadh camel racing event
Updated 02 February 2025
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Female participation in Riyadh camel racing event

Female participation in Riyadh camel racing event
  • The increase in the number of participating women camel riders has also contributed to a rise in the prizes

RIYADH: The number of women taking part in camel racing at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival this year has doubled compared to 2024, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The increase has led the organizing committee to add a second race which includes 18 Saudi female camel riders.

Organized by the Saudi Camel Federation, the festival’s second edition kicked off on Jan. 27 at the Janadriyah Camel Race Track in Riyadh. It will end on Wednesday, Feb. 5 with total prize money of more than SR70 million ($18.7 million) awarded.

The increase in the number of participating women camel riders has also contributed to a rise in the prizes. (SPA photo)

During last year’s festival, 15 female camel riders competed, representing Britain, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.

This year has seen 30 female riders from 12 countries take part: Algeria, Bahrain, Britain, France, Germany, Oman, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the UAE, US and Yemen.

The increase has contributed to a rise in the prize pot, with the first-placed female rider receiving SR60,000.