UN Climate Talks in Riyadh Fail to Deliver Binding Global Drought Agreement

Despite progress on funding and awareness, nations postpone key decisions on drought protocols to 2026.

The COP16 summit in Riyadh concluded without a binding global protocol to address worsening droughts, with decisions deferred to COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.
African nations and indigenous groups advocated for a legally binding agreement, but developed countries favored a less stringent framework.
Droughts, exacerbated by climate change, are projected to impact 75% of the global population by 2050, with severe implications for agriculture and food security.
Saudi Arabia and international banks pledged over $12 billion to support drought resilience in vulnerable countries, though the UN estimates trillions are needed by 2030.
The failure follows a pattern of underwhelming outcomes at other major UN environmental talks this year on biodiversity, climate finance, and plastic pollution.