The Arab Coordination Group (ACG), a coalition of ten leading development finance institutions, has announced a groundbreaking commitment of up to $10 billion by 2030 to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought. The pledge was made during the Ministerial Dialogue on Finance at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This transformative commitment, outlined in a joint communiqué from the Heads of ACG Institutions, aims to drive significant efforts in land restoration, enhance climate resilience, and promote nature-positive development, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel. The ACG plans to utilize innovative financing instruments to mobilize resources, strengthen partnerships, and support sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and food security in vulnerable regions.
H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group, speaking on behalf of the ACG, emphasized that the $10 billion pledge reflects a collective determination to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges. He stated, “By restoring degraded lands and combating desertification and drought, we are not just preserving ecosystems but also securing livelihoods and fostering resilience in the world’s most vulnerable communities.”
This new commitment builds on the ACG’s previous pledges, including the $50 billion pledged in Riyadh in November 2023 to bolster resilient infrastructure and inclusive societies in Africa, the $24 billion climate finance pledge at COP27 in November 2022, and the $10 billion Food Security Action Package announced in June 2022.
The ACG also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s leadership in advancing global environmental initiatives, including the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives and the G20 Global Land Initiative. These programs serve as global benchmarks for collaborative efforts to restore lands and adapt to climate change.
In line with the objectives of the UNCCD, the ACG reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the global agenda for land protection and restoration. This includes fostering partnerships, mobilizing resources, and advocating for the establishment of international platforms for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building to support sustainable land management, climate adaptation, and ecosystem restoration worldwide.
The ACG’s $10 billion commitment signals a major step forward in the global effort to combat desertification and land degradation, offering hope for millions of people living in vulnerable regions affected by the impacts of climate change. Through these efforts, the ACG aims to create a more sustainable and resilient future for communities at the forefront of environmental challenges.