People attend the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 3, 2024. COP16, held from Dec. 2 to 13 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future," is the largest UN land-focused conference to date and the first UNCCD COP in the Middle East and North Africa. Delegates are expected to make decisions on collective actions aimed at accelerating land restoration, improving resilience to droughts and sandstorms, restoring soil health, and scaling up nature-positive food production, with a focus on 2030 and beyond. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)