IUCN at UNCCD COP16

Under the theme 'Our Land. Our future.' UNCCD COP16 was the last of the three Rio Conventions to meet in late 2024. Taking place against the backdrop of an interlinked climate, biodiversity and land degradation crisis, there is a collective need to scale-up our actions and investments to prevent and restore degraded lands, address ever-worsening droughts, improve the health of our soils and ensure the inclusion of all, and to do so at speed and scale.

As a partner to the Convention since 2011, IUCN supports progress towards policies and programmes that deliver Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) through the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as the preferred option for LDN achievement, as it provides a holistic and balanced response and generates multiple benefits for people and nature, addresses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributes to poverty reduction.

In addition to following and contributing to the negotiations, IUCN hosted a pavilion in the Blue Zone of the COP venue. Under the banner 'Unite for Nature, Home of Union,' the IUCN pavilion showcased a variety of events throughout the two weeks of the COP.

IUCN's key messages at UNCCD COP16

1. Place NbS at the centre of efforts to enhance implementation of the Convention.
2. Accelerate the development of initiatives and partnerships that promote synergies between the Rio Conventions and other MEAs, with LDN as the entry point.
3. Increase action for the restoration of rangelands, grasslands and agricultural lands for climate and biodiversity benefits.
4. Enhance the resilience of vulnerable people and ecosystems to the impacts of drought.
5. Promote inclusive stakeholder engagement in land restoration.