SIDS PAVILION LAUNCHED AT UNCCD COP16 IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA DECEMBER 2,2024- A momentous occasion for Small Island Developing States, the first ever pavilion at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), commenced December 2nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This milestone highlights the growing recognition of the unique challenges faced by SIDS, particularly in relation to land degradation, drought resilience, and climate change. The opening of the SIDS pavilion at COP16 provides a dedicated space for these nations to highlight the significant strides they have made in sustainable land and soil management, governance and overall stewardship of land, particularly through their various projects, initiatives, and implementation of appropriate technologies.
Delivering remarks at the opening of the pavilion on day one, was the Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Andrea Meza Murillo. She said, “The SIDS Forum, is a good idea to elevate the voice of SIDS Countries; especially as many new Ministers are attending, which signals the intention of making land issues a priority.”
With COP16’s theme, Our Land. Our Future, underscoring the importance of integrated land use planning and management for global climate resilience, Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster- Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Minister for Samoa Tourism Authority, explained that the SIDS pavilion is expected to play a pivotal role in influencing international conversations about land degradation neutrality, climate adaptation, and the need for tailored solutions for island nations.
Chairman of the PISLM Ministerial Council- Hon. Alfred Prospere of St. Lucia explained that the eagerness of SIDS, “To achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030; given that the land and its resources are our only place of refuge and our bargaining chip, when it comes to the climate crisis.”
Calvin James, Executive Director of PISLM, emphasized the importance of the pavilion in, “Raising awareness about the distinctive challenges faced by SIDS, including their vulnerability to the impacts of land degradation, including sand and dust storms.”
The SIDS Pavilion at COP16 is a broader shift in global environmental discourse, where the voices of SIDS are increasingly amplified in the fight against desertification and climate change. As the conference progresses over the next two weeks, it is the desire that the SIDS pavilion will foster greater international collaboration and inspire new partnerships to address the urgent need for integrated and sustainable land use planning and management in vulnerable regions worldwide.
The dedicated space at COP16 serves not only as a platform for highlighting the work of SIDS but also as a call to action for the international community to support these nations in their ongoing fight for a more resilient and sustainable future. The SIDS Pavilion was funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and facilitated through the UNCCD.
About the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM)
The PISLM for CSIDS is the only independent IGO with a mandate to help Caribbean SIDS meet their obligations under the UNCCD and land and soil areas of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA).
About COP16
UNCCD COP 16 is more than a critical milestone – it represents a moonshot moment to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience through a people-centered approach. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global voice for land and one of the three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the main decision-making body of UNCCD’s 197 Parties – 196 countries and the European Union. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, COP16 will be the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa region, which knows first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought. COP16 is poised to be a game-changer, marking a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.
