• Land restoration and finance focus: OPEC Fund will emphasize innovative financing solutions for land restoration and climate resilience during COP16 in Riyadh.
• New Clean Cooking Report unveiled: The OPEC Fund will release its first report on clean cooking solutions, targeting over two billion people relying on harmful traditional fuels.
• Arab Coordination Group collaboration: The OPEC Fund will join collective initiatives to promote land restoration, biodiversity conservation, and nature-positive development.

Driving Collective Action at COP16

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) will actively contribute to global discussions on combating desertification and restoring degraded land at COP16, hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2-13, 2024. Themed “Our Land. Our Future,” the event highlights the urgency of scaling up efforts to restore ecosystems and enhance climate resilience.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa underscored the conference’s importance, stating:

“COP16 represents a critical opportunity to strengthen global collaboration on land restoration and climate resilience. Saudi Arabia’s leadership in hosting this conference and advancing initiatives such as the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives highlights the importance of collective action. The OPEC Fund is proud to align with these efforts, contributing innovative solutions to protect ecosystems and improve livelihoods.”

Strategic Initiatives at COP16

The OPEC Fund will showcase its initiatives at space A17 in the Blue Zone pavilion, highlighting contributions in sustainable land management, climate adaptation, and energy access. It will also join the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) pavilion, uniting with 10 regional development finance institutions to announce new commitments towards land restoration, biodiversity conservation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key highlights include:

• High-Level Engagement: OPEC Fund representatives will participate in the Ministerial Dialogue on “Unlocking Public and Private Finance for Land Restoration and Drought Resilience,” emphasizing integrated financing for vulnerable communities.
• Knowledge-Sharing Hub: The OPEC Fund’s Blue Zone pavilion will spotlight projects in land management, drought resilience, and clean energy access.
• Clean Cooking Report Launch: The first Clean Cooking Report will be unveiled, addressing the harmful impacts of traditional cooking fuels and showcasing projects in Africa, including efforts in Madagascar.

Reinforcing Global Collaboration

Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiatives, the OPEC Fund aims to foster global partnerships to combat desertification and advance sustainable development. Collaborative announcements from the Arab Coordination Group at COP16 will further underline the importance of shared goals in restoring ecosystems and promoting climate resilience.

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