2013 World Day to Combat Desertification
-
ONLINE
-
17 June 2013
The theme of the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is drought and water scarcity.
Freshwater is valuable. Of all the water on Earth, only 2.5 per cent is freshwater. Of this freshwater, the total usable supply for ecosystems and humans is less than 1 per cent. When demand for water exceeds available supply, it results in water scarcity.
Drylands are particularly vulnerable to water scarcity. The projected intensification of freshwater scarcity will cause greater stresses in drylands. While each person needs at least 2,000 cubic meters of water for human well-being and sustainable development every year, on average, people in the drylands have access to only 1,300 cubic meters.
The goal of the 2013 WDCD is to create awareness about the risks of drought and water scarcity in the drylands and beyond, calling attention to the importance of sustaining healthy soils as part of post United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 agenda, as well as the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s slogan, “Don’t let our future dry up” calls for everyone to take action to promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity, desertification and drought. The slogan embodies the message that we are all responsible for water and land conservation and sustainable land use, and that there are solutions to these serious natural resource challenges. Land degradation does not have to threaten our future.
Please help us spread the message through social media, sharing our graphics and using the hashtag #WDCD2013.
We invite you to share photos and news from your events with us by posting to our United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Facebook page.
To request further information, such as WDCD messages from United Nations officials or press releases in additional languages, as well as past campaign, press or awareness raising materials, please contact secretariat [at] unccd.int (secretariat[at]unccd[dot]int) .
Events Around the World
Messages
Michel. Jarraud, Secretary-General, WMO
Luc Gancadja, Executive Secretary, UNCCD
Resources