UNCCD COP14 begins in New Delhi amid global campaign to save productive land
Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) - The 14th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) began Monday in New Delhi, India, where decisions will be considered that aim to strengthen land-use policies worldwide and address emerging threats, such as forced migration, sand and dust storms and droughts.
The two-week long conference on land management will consider around 30 decisions with actions that aim to strengthen land-use policies worldwide and address emerging threats, such as forced migration, sand and dust storms, and droughts.
India’s Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar said some good outcomes are expected and that the Delhi Declaration will form the future course of action on land degradation.
Javadekar noted that if human actions have created the problems of climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss, it is the strong intent, technology and intellect that will make difference, pointing out that it is human efforts that will undo the damage and improve the habitats.
“We meet here to ensure that this happens,” Javadekar stated at the start of the Fourteenth Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) taking place from 2-13 September in New Delhi.
“Coming together at a world platform like this to share good stories and experiences will help the world. We can leapfrog for a good start in each country. Therefore, this UNCCD is very important and we expect some good outcomes which will be notified in Delhi Declaration. Delhi Declaration will form the future course of action,” Javadekar said in a statement issued by UNCCD.
Pointing to an unprecedented global campaign to save productive land, Javadekar said 122 countries, among them Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Russia and South Africa, which are among the largest and most populous nations on Earth, “have agreed to make the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving land degradation neutrality a national target.
Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), drew attention to the warnings sounded by recent scientific assessments and the growing public alarm at the frequency of weather-related disasters such as drought, forest fires, flash floods and soil loss, but urged delegates to be mindful of the opportunities for change that are opening up, and take action.
“While the science and events around us must get our full attention, we should never, ever, lose sight of the inspiring moments or opportunities opening up or are happening around us that we can build on to break vicious cycles, trends or behavior. This is what will move us forward,” the UNCCD head stated.
Over 70 percent of the world’s land area has been transformed from the natural state to provide food, fibre and energy. Some of the conversion is essential, but what is alarming is the pace of land transformation that is putting 1 million species at risk of extinction.
Negotiations at COP 14 will centre on among other issues, on drought, land tenure, ecosystem restoration, climate change, health, sand and dust storms, cities of the future, financial investment, and the roles of youth, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.
An estimated 7,200 delegates are expected to attend the conference ending on 13 September. India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will officially open the high-level segment meeting beginning 9 September to be attended by Ministers from over 70 countries who will address new and emerging issues.
Meanwhile, the Indian Government has taken over the residency of the COP from China and will serve for two years. The Conference of Parties meet once every two years. China hosted the last Conference of Parties in October 2017.
-0- PANA MM/VAO 2Sept2019
