In 1992, the first ICID was instrumental to support the creation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Mitigate the Effects of Droughts, the UNCCD. During the last 18 years, there was important institutional improvement, both at the international and national levels. We have now the UNCCD and the two other Rio Conventions, the UNFCCC and the UNCBD, and certainly there is more awareness in regard to the environmental problems of degradation and desertification, as well as with the impacts of climate variability and change.

Notwithstanding these improvements, these regions still lack priority, investments and support to their sustainable development. The Second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions, the ICID+18, was held in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil, from 16th to 20th August, 2010. It was organized by the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE), a social organization linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology