IsDB President Meets UNCCD Chief Ahead of COP 16 in Riyadh

Jeddah, August 21, 2024 — The President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser, received today at the IsDB headquarters in Jeddah the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ibrahim Thiaw, to discuss enhanced cooperation ahead of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the UNCCD, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from December 2 to 13. The meeting underscored the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in global environmental diplomacy and its commitment to supporting multilateral efforts to combat desertification and land degradation.

Context and Background

The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Established in 1994, the Convention celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024. COP 16 will be the largest meeting of the Convention’s 197 parties and the first of its kind to be held in the Middle East region. It will also be the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2024, reflecting the Kingdom’s increasing role in addressing global environmental challenges.

The Islamic Development Bank, based in Jeddah, is a multilateral development bank that fosters economic development and social progress in its member countries. The meeting between Al-Jasser and Thiaw highlights the IsDB’s commitment to supporting sustainable development and environmental sustainability, aligning with its strategic objectives and the global goals of the UNCCD.

Key Details

During the meeting, the officials reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between the IsDB and the UNCCD ahead of COP 16. They discussed joint initiatives to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought, which are critical issues for many IsDB member countries. The collaboration aims to leverage the IsDB’s financial and technical resources to support the implementation of the UNCCD’s objectives and the outcomes of COP 16.

Ibrahim Thiaw praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in hosting COP 16, noting that the conference will provide a platform for countries to showcase their efforts and commitments to combat desertification. He emphasized the importance of partnerships with institutions like the IsDB to mobilize resources and scale up solutions.

Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser reaffirmed the IsDB’s readiness to work closely with the UNCCD and its member countries to address environmental challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where desertification poses a significant threat to livelihoods and food security.

Implications and Impact

The cooperation between the IsDB and the UNCCD ahead of COP 16 signals a strengthened global partnership to tackle desertification, a pressing issue affecting over 100 countries. The Riyadh conference is expected to draw high-level participation from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society, and to catalyze new commitments and actions.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP 16 is a testament to its growing environmental stewardship and its capacity to convene global stakeholders. It also aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which includes ambitious environmental sustainability goals, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, aimed at planting billions of trees and restoring degraded land.

The meeting between IsDB and UNCCD leaders also highlights the role of Islamic finance and development institutions in supporting global environmental agendas, potentially unlocking new funding streams for sustainable land management projects.

Vision 2030 Alignment

The Kingdom’s hosting of COP 16 and the enhanced cooperation between the IsDB and UNCCD are directly aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy, promote sustainability, and enhance the Kingdom’s global role. By leading efforts to combat desertification, Saudi Arabia is not only addressing a critical environmental challenge but also reinforcing its position as a responsible global actor committed to multilateral solutions and the well-being of future generations.

20 Questions

Q1. What is the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)?

A1. The IsDB is a multilateral development bank based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that promotes economic development and social progress in its member countries, with a focus on Islamic finance and sustainable development.

Q2. Who is Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser?

A2. Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser is the President of the Islamic Development Bank Group. He has extensive experience in finance and development and leads the bank’s efforts to support member countries.

Q3. Who is Ibrahim Thiaw?

A3. Ibrahim Thiaw is the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. He has a long career in environmental and sustainable development issues.

Q4. What is the UNCCD?

A4. The UNCCD is the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a treaty that addresses desertification and land degradation. It is one of the three Rio Conventions.

Q5. What is COP 16?

A5. COP 16 is the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD. It will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024.

Q6. Why is COP 16 significant for Saudi Arabia?

A6. It is the first UNCCD COP in the Middle East and the largest multilateral conference Saudi Arabia has hosted in 2024, showcasing the Kingdom’s leadership in environmental diplomacy.

Q7. How many countries are part of the UNCCD?

A7. The UNCCD has 197 parties, making it a near-universal international agreement. COP 16 will be the largest meeting of these parties.

Q8. What is the Rio Conventions?

A8. The Rio Conventions are three environmental treaties: UNCCD, UNFCCC, and CBD. They were established at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Q9. What was the purpose of the meeting between Al-Jasser and Thiaw?

A9. They met to discuss enhanced cooperation ahead of COP 16, focusing on joint efforts to combat desertification and land degradation in IsDB member countries.

Q10. How does the IsDB support environmental sustainability?

A10. The IsDB integrates environmental sustainability into its projects, promoting climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management in member countries.

Q11. What is the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD?

A11. The UNCCD was adopted in 1994, so 2024 marks its 30th anniversary. COP 16 will commemorate this milestone and assess progress.

Q12. What are the expected outcomes of COP 16?

A12. COP 16 aims to galvanize action on land restoration, drought resilience, and sustainable land management, with new pledges and initiatives from governments and partners.

Q13. How does COP 16 relate to Saudi Vision 2030?

A13. It aligns with Vision 2030’s environmental goals, such as the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees and restore 40 million hectares of land.

Q14. What is the Saudi Green Initiative?

A14. The Saudi Green Initiative is a national effort to combat climate change, reduce emissions, and enhance sustainability, including large-scale tree planting and land restoration.

Q15. What is the Middle East Green Initiative?

A15. It is a regional initiative led by Saudi Arabia to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East and improve environmental cooperation among countries.

Q16. How can the IsDB contribute to combating desertification?

A16. The IsDB can provide financing, technical assistance, and capacity-building to support land restoration, water management, and sustainable agriculture in affected regions.

Q17. What role does Saudi Arabia play in global environmental diplomacy?

A17. Saudi Arabia is increasingly active in international environmental forums, hosting major conferences and launching initiatives that address climate change and desertification.

Q18. What is desertification?

A18. Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, caused by various factors including climate change and human activities.

Q19. How many people are affected by desertification?

A19. Over 100 countries are affected, and desertification threatens the livelihoods of more than 1 billion people worldwide, according to UN estimates.

Q20. What is the significance of the IsDB-UNCCD partnership?

A20. It combines development finance with environmental expertise, enabling scalable solutions to desertification and supporting sustainable development in IsDB member countries and beyond.

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