December 6, 2024 | UCLG ASPAC, represented by President of the Sustainability Committee, Selangor State, Malaysia, attended a High-Level Working Session and Mayors’ Forum at COP16, organised by Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The event was associated under the umbrella of Global Task Force (GTF) coordinated by UCLG.
The High-level session established a specific process decided in Riyadh, for the facilitation and empowerment of Local and Regional Governments’ contribution to the global efforts in combating drought and land degradation. The session was insightful with a series of statements from former UCLG President, Mr. Ibrahim Altay, Executive President and Mayor of Konya and local government representatives:
- Mr. Cédric Tidiane Diarra, Mayor of Dioulatiédougou, over 20 years, our forests have decreased by 40%. Once a source of prosperity, our land now faces climate challenges, declining agricultural productivity, and export barriers, to drive development, we need resources.
- Mr. Mohamed Saadie, Danieeh Municipality, Jordan stated that he has a duty to join people here who are fighting for a better future. We are trying to achieve the SDGs and most of them depend on Climate Change. Municipalities are at the forefront of change.
- Ms. Noraini Roslan, Selangor State Government, Malaysia stated that to tackle land degradation, we must empower local planning departments. In Malaysia, national environmental agencies face resource gaps, and LRGs lack tools for land development. Strengthening local capacities is the key to real solutions.
- Mr. Zinnur Büyükgöz, Gebze Municipality, in a densely populated area, our focus is on targeting the effective use of water to combat land degradation.
- Mr. Gappar Sarsenbayev, Chairman of Turkistan City Council, shared that we are here to push the dialogue. The lack of recitation is a huge challenge we are facing in Turkistan. We need to address this issue for the well-being of our community.
- Mr. Mohamed Basheer, Pres. of Noonu Atoll Council, Maldives, stated that 75% of our land is used for tourism, but communities that once lived in harmony with nature are now facing critical challenges. We must rethink how we balance development with environmental preservation.
- Mr. Edouard Hervé Moby, Mayor of Douala, mentioned in his statement that we face critical challenges with migration, deforestation, and mangrove destruction. Slums are at serious risk due to forest loss, threatening soil stability. Protecting our land and forests is the key to food security and livelihoods.
The high-level session continued with the Mayor Forum, officially welcomed by Mr. Waleed Al-Akrich, Deputy for Projects of the Riyadh Municipality, representing Dr. Faisal Al-Hadlaziz Al-Hayyar, Mayor of Riyadh. In his welcoming remarks, Al-Akrich emphasised the critical role of local and regional governments in combating desertification, land degradation, and drought. Speaking under the COP16 theme “Our Land, Our Future,” he highlighted the transformative potential of multilevel governance frameworks, urging collaboration across governments, Non-Governmental Organisations, and international entities.
The opening remark was delivered by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, through a video message. She underscored the need for inclusive solutions to address migration pressures, food security, and water scarcity while ensuring no one is left behind. The Forum was moderated by Mr. Carlos Correa, former Mayor of Montevideo, the forum showcased diverse perspectives from mayors and local leaders worldwide. Mr. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and Former President of UCLG shared innovative efforts in Turkey, such as restoring the dried Meke Lake and advancing water conservation. The UCLG ASPAC representative to COP16, Ms. Noraini Roslan, Selangor State Government, Malaysia, highlighted strategies balancing urbanisation with sustainability, including mangrove rehabilitation and wetland protection. Other panellist, Mr. Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco, illustrated the importance of urban-rural linkages in local reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts to combat climate change. The panel session emphasised the need for collaborative governance, knowledge sharing, and sustainable solutions like nature-based projects, urban nature components, and integrated land-use planning. At the end of the forum, most of the panellists stressed the importance of local governments as first responders to challenges such as land degradation, food security, and climate change, urging institutionalised roles for local authorities within the UNCCD framework.
