Healthy Land: Why Combating Desertification is Crucial for Human Security
Publication year
Resource type
UNCCD Library
Material Type
Web resource
On 20 February, UNU will host a conversation with Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Time
20 Feb 2024, 18:30 - 19:30 Asia/Tokyo
Address
https://go.unu.edu/6krXW
Details
Open to public
On 20 February 2024, UNU will host “Healthy Land: Why Combating Desertification is Crucial for Human Security”, a conversation with Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This event will start at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Loss of fertile land is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It has serious consequences worldwide for food security, ecological safety, poverty eradication and sustainable development. Land degradation, drought and water scarcity are among the biggest threats to global security.
According to the latest science, 3.2 billion people are affected by land degradation, a phenomenon that has engulfed 75% of all ice-free land and has made one out of four hectares totally unusable. According to the United Nations, if this trend continues, up to 90% of all ice-free land will be altered by human activities by 2050. Approximately 50 million people could be displaced from their homes by 2030 as a result of desertification.
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management and the problem of desertification.
Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala for a conversation exploring the relationship between land degradation and issues of human security such as famine, conflicts and environmental crises, as well as the role of international cooperation and the UNCCD in combating desertification. How does climate change worsen the vulnerability of arid regions, particularly in Africa? What are the consequences of drought for food security? What role does sustainable land management play in reducing the potential for conflict in arid regions? What initiatives and strategies should governments, civil society, and local communities undertake to strengthen sustainable land management?
The UNU Conversation Series aims to foster audience participation; you are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 19 February) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page.
Time
20 Feb 2024, 18:30 - 19:30 Asia/Tokyo
Address
https://go.unu.edu/6krXW
Details
Open to public
On 20 February 2024, UNU will host “Healthy Land: Why Combating Desertification is Crucial for Human Security”, a conversation with Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This event will start at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Loss of fertile land is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It has serious consequences worldwide for food security, ecological safety, poverty eradication and sustainable development. Land degradation, drought and water scarcity are among the biggest threats to global security.
According to the latest science, 3.2 billion people are affected by land degradation, a phenomenon that has engulfed 75% of all ice-free land and has made one out of four hectares totally unusable. According to the United Nations, if this trend continues, up to 90% of all ice-free land will be altered by human activities by 2050. Approximately 50 million people could be displaced from their homes by 2030 as a result of desertification.
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management and the problem of desertification.
Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala for a conversation exploring the relationship between land degradation and issues of human security such as famine, conflicts and environmental crises, as well as the role of international cooperation and the UNCCD in combating desertification. How does climate change worsen the vulnerability of arid regions, particularly in Africa? What are the consequences of drought for food security? What role does sustainable land management play in reducing the potential for conflict in arid regions? What initiatives and strategies should governments, civil society, and local communities undertake to strengthen sustainable land management?
The UNU Conversation Series aims to foster audience participation; you are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 19 February) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page.
Keywords
combat desertification
human security
health protection
land degradation