Saudi Arabia has called on policymakers to urgently address land destruction and drought ahead of the 16th UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP16 in Riyadh. The country emphasized the need for international collaboration to curb land degradation, combat drought, and promote sustainable use of natural resources. The upcoming COP16 meeting aims to accelerate restoration efforts and meet the Land Degradation Neutrality targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. The UNCCD warns that up to 40% of the world's land is already degraded, directly affecting an estimated 3.2 billion people.