During COP16 in Riyadh in December, 2024 – People’s Day – the Quality of Life Initiative delivered a thought-provoking Side Event hosted by UN-Habitat and UNDP: Our Land. Our Future. The Health of Land and Quality of Life. 

I had the honour to be part of the panel of experts that explored how land desertification and degradation impact people’s Quality Of Life, how people impact land, and why people-centered approaches are central to progress. Other panelists included:

• Norah Alyusuf (Quality of Life Program, KSA),
• Peter de Clercq (UNDP),
• Marija de Wijn (UN-Habitat, Quality of Life Initiative),
• Eduardo Moreno (moderator).

   

Key Takeaways from the Side Event:

• Land and quality of life are deeply interconnected. Addressing degradation requires inclusive, localized solutions that integrate global agendas with individual needs.
• Social cohesion is critical: thriving communities depend on connectedness and collaboration.
• Progress isn’t just about interventions — it’s about understanding their cause and effect while measuring impact through human-centric governance and holistic planning.
• Better, more localized data will help us shift from response to prevention and disaster risk reduction, strengthening resilience for both people and land.