1040. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

June 17 is World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Thirty years ago, on June 17, 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was adopted, and on January 30, 1995, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing the World Day to raise awareness about preventing desertification and protecting people from drought. 

Desertification, land degradation, and drought are among the most serious environmental problems of our time, with approximately 40% of the world's land area already degraded.

Healthy land not only provides nearly 95% of our food, but also provides clothing and shelter, creates jobs, sustains livelihoods, and protects us from droughts, floods and wildfires.

At the same time, unsustainable production and consumption patterns associated with a growing population increase the demand for natural resources and put degradation pressure on land. Desertification and drought displace people.

To reverse this trend, 130 countries under the UNCCD have committed to achieving "Land Degradation Neutrality"* by 2030.

＊Land Degradation Neutrality refers to a state where the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remain stable or increase within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program