Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land management to stay within planetary boundaries

This comprehensive report, prepared for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), examines how unsustainable land management practices are contributing to the breaching of planetary boundaries. Highlighting the critical role of land in Earth's systems, the report connects land degradation to climate change, biodiversity loss, and water resource challenges. It offers actionable strategies for reversing these trends, emphasizing sustainable practices, governance improvements, and socioeconomic fairness. The report underscores the urgency of transformative actions to restore ecosystems and foster resilience, aligning these efforts with global sustainability frameworks such as the Rio Conventions. With a planetary boundaries perspective, the report also explores the socioeconomic implications of land degradation, proposing a suite of integrated solutions to maintain environmental and human wellbeing. The report was produced by Postdam Climate Institute (PIK) in collaboration with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), released to coincide with UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh.