Commitment to Nature-Positive Strategies Highlighted During Our Participation in COP16 Urban Desertification Session

We participated in the World Economic Forum’s session titled From Sand to Soil: Nature-Positive Approaches to Urban Desertification, held during the 16th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD-COP16) in Riyadh. A key outcome of the session was our commitment to exploring and implementing nature-positive strategies that restore ecosystems and build resilience within our community.

The discussions emphasized innovative approaches to embedding nature into urban development to tackle desertification and land degradation. Engaging in this global dialogue allowed us to contribute grounded insights from our experience addressing environmental and livelihood challenges in the Maldives.

Key Themes

1. Multistakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Change

The session highlighted the need for collaboration between governments, private companies, civil society, and academia to develop holistic, nature-positive solutions. We shared examples of community-led environmental projects and underscored how local engagement can amplify the impact of broader sustainability initiatives.

2. Leveraging Technology and Innovation

The potential of technology in creating nature-positive urban environments was a focal point. Discussions included tools such as satellite monitoring and IoT systems for tracking natural assets like air and water. We emphasized the importance of integrating traditional ecological insights with cutting-edge technologies to address specific environmental needs in a sustainable and ethical manner.

3. Addressing Policy and Financial Barriers

Regulatory and financial challenges were highlighted as significant hurdles to scaling nature-positive solutions. The session called for policy reforms and innovative public procurement models that improve access to funding for sustainable urban projects. We echoed these sentiments and are exploring ways to adapt these strategies to strengthen local governance and resource allocation frameworks.

Advancing Nature-Positive Goals

Our participation reaffirmed our alignment with the Nature-Positive Cities initiative’s objectives, which aim to halt and reverse global nature loss by 2030. This initiative, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and Oliver Wyman, focuses on embedding biodiversity and healthy ecosystems into urban planning frameworks. It offers a roadmap for leaders to address nature-related risks and dependencies while advancing sustainable economic growth.