Every year, an area the size of Egypt is lost to desertification and drought. This area is approximately 100 million hectares of healthy, productive land. Climate change and poor land management practices drive much of this destruction, which is devastating ecosystems and threatening food security. On December 2, countries gathered in Riyadh under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to discuss solutions to reverse this crisis and regenerate degraded land.
WHY HEALTHY LAND IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE
Land is the foundation of life. It sustains humanity by providing food, clothing, shelter, jobs, and livelihoods. It regulates climate, supports biodiversity, and is crucial for both local and global economies.
Yet, up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded, affecting 3.2 billion people — almost half of the global population. Land degradation is a global issue. It threatens the future of life on Earth. This is clear from deforested mountains in Haiti to the disappearing Lake Chad in the Sahel.
THE GROWING PROBLEM OF DESERTIFICATION
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid regions. It is caused by a mix of natural factors and human activities like over-farming and deforestation. Each year, 100 million hectares of productive land — an area equivalent to Egypt — is lost. These soils, which take centuries to form, are being eroded, exacerbating the impact of extreme weather events like droughts and floods.
The situation is worsening, with three out of four people projected to face water scarcity by 2050. Rising temperatures due to climate change are further intensifying droughts and floods, making it increasingly difficult to keep land productive.
THE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN LAND LOSS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
There is a clear link between land degradation and climate change. Healthy land ecosystems absorb one-third of human CO2 emissions, but poor land management erodes this ability. Deforestation, a key driver of desertification, is increasing. Only 60% of the world’s forests remain intact. This is below the UN’s “safe target” of 75%.
As land loss accelerates, so does the release of CO2, making it harder to tackle climate change. Addressing desertification is crucial not only for restoring land but also for fighting climate change.
RESTORING LAND: A ‘MOONSHOT MOMENT’ FOR THE PLANET
The good news is that humanity has the knowledge and tools to restore degraded land. By embracing sustainable land management and regenerative practices, we can reverse land degradation and create resilient ecosystems.
To achieve this, the UNCCD has set an ambitious target: to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. This vision is already taking shape. Farmers in Burkina Faso are adopting new techniques. Environmentalists in Uzbekistan are planting trees to combat desertification. Activists in the Philippines are working to protect Manila from extreme weather by restoring natural barriers.
WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED AT THE RIYADH SUMMIT
The UNCCD summit in Riyadh will bring together policymakers, experts, the private sector, civil society, and youth to tackle desertification. Key goals for the summit include:
- Accelerating the restoration of degraded lands by 2030 and beyond
- Boosting resilience to intensifying droughts and dust storms
- Restoring soil health and scaling up nature-positive food production
- Securing land rights and promoting equity in land stewardship
- Ensuring that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions
- Unlocking economic opportunities, including decent land-based jobs for youth
FAST FACTS: THE UN AND DESERTIFICATION
- Three decades ago, in 1994, 196 countries and the European Union signed up to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification or UNCCD.
- The Conference of the Parties or COP is the main decision-making body of UNCCD.
- UNCCD is the global voice for land where governments, businesses and civil society come together to discuss challenges and chart a sustainable future for land.
- The 16th meeting of the COP (otherwise known as COP16) is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December.
- UNCCD is one of three “Rio Conventions.” along with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). These are outcomes of the historic 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.