At the UNCCD COP16 in Saudi Arabia, experts warned that land management will determine the future of life on Earth.

Speakers at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification's COP16, taking place in Saudi Arabia, have issued urgent warnings about the need for immediate action to protect life on Earth.

Ibrahim Thiaw, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, emphasized, "The way we manage our land today will directly determine the future of life on Earth."

The COP16 conference, which is being held in Riyadh from December 2 to December 13, is centered around the theme: "Our Land. Our Future." The event aims to unite world leaders, experts, and community representatives from across the globe to collaborate on land restoration efforts and combat desertification.

In October, the United Nations weather agency reported that 2023 had been the driest year for the world’s rivers in over 30 years. This year, which also saw record-high temperatures, contributed to a significant decline in water flow and prolonged droughts in several regions.

2023 was the hottest year on record, and the summer of that year marked the hottest summer ever. Experts are now concerned about the possibility of another record-breaking year in 2024.

The rising global temperatures are causing unpredictable rainfall patterns, extreme heat waves, and persistent droughts.

During his address at COP16, Swedish scientist Prof. Johan Rockström raised a crucial point: "For the first time in human history on planet Earth, we scientifically are forced to consider the following risk."

Rockström continued, "We are currently halfway through the decisive decade that very likely will determine the future of humanity for many generations to come."