The Freshwater Challenge to accelerate restoration of rivers and wetlands by 2030 has attracted 50 countries, and raised high hopes that it can provide a strategic way to help countries meet national commitments across the three Rio Conventions.

A Just Land Transition would enable restoration of drylands while ensuring jobs, agricultural productivity, and social safety nets. Realizing this vision, speakers suggested, will require not only funding but also empowering community-based and women-led organizations.

While delegates did not adopt a decision to negotiate a framework or protocol on drought, many strong and groundbreaking decisions were adopted, including on gender, agriculture, civil society participation, rangelands and pastoralists, and land tenure, and science.