FR 
EN ChangeNOW, under the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), powered the Business4Land Lounge during UNCCD COP16 from December 2nd to December 13th, 2024 in Riyadh. At the forefront of land preservation, this conference set the tone for global objectives on how to tackle desertification.
What is UNCCD COP16?
COP16 stands at the forefront of international efforts to fight desertification and drought. It is a landmark event to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience through a people-centered approach.
UNCCD COP16 was hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where three-quarters of the arable land is degraded and 60% of the population is experiencing water scarcity[1].
It put the emphasis on adaptation and tackled many themes, including:
- Land Preservation
- Drought
- Resilience
- Water Scarcity
- Agri-Food Systems
- Youth Empowerment
- Gouvernance
- Finance
- Science & Technology
From December 2nd to 11th, ChangeNOW led a specially curated program of events in the Business4Land Lounge at the heart of the Blue Zone, facilitating high level meetings between the public and private sector.
Pioneering public-private collaboration in the Blue Zone
The Business4Land Lounge was created to foster public-private dialogue, critical in the fight against land degradation and for more sustainable land use. For the first time in history, private sector solutions and expertise were put forward in the prestigious Blue Zone of a COP, and business leaders and innovators took center stage, presenting strategies for land restoration and drought mitigation.
The involvement of the private sector shows the shift of public institutions toward collaborative problem-solving. This collaboration between ChangeNOW and the UNCCD also shows the increasing recognition of private sector contributions in addressing global environmental challenges.
ChangeNOW headed a series of roundtable discussions, private events and networking sessions at the Business4Land Lounge, aimed to bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.
“At UNCCD COP16, we’re working to restore our soils, the lifeblood of our planet, in the way we know best: by accelerating solutions, connecting private actors with public leaders, mobilizing capital, and advocating for urgent action to create real, impactful change.”
— Kevin Tayebaly, Co-Founder of ChangeNOW
Key highlight: the Business4Land Forum
On December 4th, les Business4Land Forum brought together over 400 global CEOs and leaders. This high-profile gathering focused on presenting solutions to accelerate the restoration of 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land and achieving drought resilience by 2030.
Key topics included:
- Setting harmonized targets and disclosure practices
- Transforming value chains
- Advancing regenerative agriculture
- Promoting innovation and technology
- Developing new funding mechanisms
- Enhancing advocacy for sustainable land management
A defining moment for multilateral action
As the final COP of the year 2024, UNCCD COP16 served as a rallying point for global stakeholders committed to combating land degradation. The involvement of the private sector through the collaboration with ChangeNOW showed a growing acknowledgment of businesses as crucial partners in achieving sustainable development goals. It offered a unique opportunity to align global efforts across all sectors to advance the objectives of the Rio Conventions.
By putting dialogue, innovation, and action at the center of its purpose, the Business4Land Lounge represented a significant step toward building resiliency and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
