Chinese Green Display at COP 16 in Riyadh served as the epicenter of global attraction.
China is set to share its extensive experience in sand control over the past 50 years during the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), which opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. The head of the Chinese delegation to COP16, Guan Zhi’ou, who is also the director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, highlighted that China’s remarkable achievements in controlling desertification have garnered global attention. He noted that China has successfully achieved a “double reduction” in both desertification and sandy land, becoming the first country in the world to reach the goal of zero net growth in land degradation.
An exhibition showcasing the history and achievements of the Three-North Shelterbelt Program—one of China’s most significant projects in sand control was inaugurated at the China Pavilion at COP16. This pavilion spans 608 square meters and will host a series of activities until December 13, the last day of the conference. China joined the UN convention on desertification in 1994 as one of its first signatories, and sixteen years prior to that, it launched the Three-North program. This ambitious initiative has led to the construction of a “green Great Wall” across 13 provincial-level regions, covering an area of approximately 4 million square kilometers in northern China.
Over the past 46 years, the forest coverage rate in areas affected by this project has increased significantly, rising from just over 5 percent to nearly 14 percent. Guan emphasized that China now boasts the largest area of planted forests globally and stands as the largest contributor to global greening efforts. Andrea Meza Murillo, deputy executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), expressed her admiration upon viewing images depicting various generations of Chinese citizens engaged in combating desertification. She remarked that good leadership, effective policies, societal engagement, traditional knowledge, and technological innovation are among the key lessons that other nations can learn from China’s experience.
Murillo further noted that China’s approach demonstrates that development can coexist with sustainability. She stated, “This green development is possible,” underscoring China’s commitment to ecological progress. Guan attributed part of China’s success in sand control to adherence to President Xi Jinping’s philosophy that emphasizes a harmonious relationship among mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts as a community of life. He explained that the Chinese government places great importance on constructing an ecological civilization, integrating it into all aspects of development—economic, political, cultural, and social.
Established in 1994, the UNCCD is one of three major UN treaties collectively known as the Rio Conventions, alongside those addressing climate change and biodiversity. Recent national reports presented to the UNCCD revealed that at least 1.2 billion people and an area spanning 1.5 billion hectares are affected by land degradation worldwide, with an estimated annual increase of 100 million hectares. During COP16, themed “Our Land, Our Future,” representatives from the UNCCD’s 197 parties—including 196 countries and the European Union—will conduct a midterm evaluation of their strategic framework for 2018-2030.
Guan announced that China will continue to share its technologies and exchange experiences while contributing wisdom and strength toward achieving global goals aimed at halting land degradation by 2030. He emphasized China’s commitment to supporting initiatives like the G20 Land Initiative as part of broader efforts to combat desertification and create a beautiful and habitable global environment. Through these actions at COP16 and beyond, China aims to inspire collective action against desertification while sharing valuable insights gained from its own successful experiences over decades.
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