Riyadh (UNA/WAM) - The United Arab Emirates concluded its participation in the activities of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COPXNUMX) by stressing the importance of enhancing international cooperation to find practical solutions to stop desertification and address drought, with the need to involve all societal groups and enhance the role of women in sustainable land management in the world.
The work of the Conference of the Parties “COP16” concluded in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on December 13, and was held under the slogan “Our Land... Our Future” to discuss how to transform land degradation into renewal.
Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dhaheri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who headed the UAE delegation to the conference, stressed that the UAE, with the support of its wise leadership, presents an inspiring model for working to promote sustainability in its comprehensive concept within the country and the world through pioneering efforts and initiatives that have contributed to the development of many communities in many countries.
She said that the COP16 Conference of the Parties on combating desertification witnessed a new chapter added to the UAE’s achievements in finding solutions to address the drought crisis and halt land degradation in the world through serious and effective contribution to global efforts in this field, most notably strengthening sustainable agriculture and food systems and employing innovation to find solutions to the global water crisis through the “Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative” and other solutions.
She added that the presence of Emirati teams representing several stakeholders in the country was an example of cooperation and working as one team to achieve common goals aimed at finding solutions to national challenges, expanding innovation-based agriculture and food systems, sustainable water management, and achieving the greatest benefit from natural resources and preserving them from waste, in addition to playing an active role in global efforts in this field.
During his participation in a session titled “Enhancing the Environmental Dimension of Food Systems Amidst Multiple Crises in the Arab Region,” His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, stressed that water scarcity is a major challenge facing the Arab region as it is one of the driest regions in the world, where agricultural requirements impose great pressure on limited freshwater resources.
He called for investing in climate-smart land solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change and achieve climate resilience in the Arab region, explaining that the basis for the success of these efforts is cooperation; as there is an urgent need for effective participation and coordination between sectors and stakeholders to achieve common goals in Arab countries.
He said that during its presidency of COP28, the UAE stressed the role of agri-food systems in addressing these challenges; and was keen to place food systems at the heart of the climate action agenda, noting that the COP28 UAE Declaration on Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action, which has been approved so far by 160 countries, confirms that achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement depends on addressing the interactions between food systems, agriculture and climate.
He referred to the national programme “Plant the Emirates” which aims to enable local communities to contribute to achieving food security for the UAE by encouraging participation in agricultural practices, in addition to the “National Agricultural Centre” which aims to advance research and innovation in the field of agricultural technologies.
In turn, Heba Obaid Al Shehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Biodiversity and Aquatic Life Sector, participated in a session titled “High-Level Interactive Ministerial Dialogue on Gender: Women’s Leadership in Sustainable Land Management,” and affirmed the UAE’s firm commitment to gender equality as part of its efforts to address the repercussions of climate change, especially sustainable land management.
Al Shehhi highlighted the UAE’s important role in empowering women in agriculture through efforts, the most prominent of which was the project to enhance the capabilities of refugees in Uganda, funded by the “Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women”, and in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
She added that the call to enhance the role of women in achieving climate resilience and land reclamation is in line with the UAE’s national strategy, as women play a pivotal role in formulating policies and driving innovative solutions to combat land degradation and desertification. Al Shehhi also participated in a session titled “Synergizing Multilateral Environmental Agreements to Strengthen Environmental Governance: Insights from the Third Bern Conference”, where she stressed that climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are a link between interconnected environmental crises, and therefore, addressing these challenges requires a similarly comprehensive response.
Al Shehhi pointed out that the UAE, in cooperation with Indonesia, launched the “Mangrove Alliance for Climate,” which aims to expand the global cultivation of mangrove trees, in addition to laying the foundation stone for the “Mohammed bin Zayed-Jokowi Widodo” Center for Mangrove Research in Indonesia.
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