Land resources – soil, water, and biodiversity – provide the foundation for the wealth of our societies and economies. However, the way we currently manage and use these natural resources is threatening the health and continued survival of many species on Earth, including our own. Humans have already transformed more than 70% of the Earth’s land area from its natural state, causing unparalleled environmental degradation and contributing significantly to global warming. The global extent of land degradation is estimated at between 20-40% of the total land area, directly affecting nearly half of the world’s population and spanning the world’s croplands, drylands, wetlands, forests, and grasslands.3 Of nine planetary boundaries used to define a ‘safe operating space for humanity’, four have already been exceeded: climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, and geochemical cycles,4 leading to a business-as-usual scenario that suggests additional degradation of a land area the size of SouthAmerica by 2050.5

As land is the operative link between biodiversity loss and climate change, it provides a multitude of meaningful entry points to tackle these intertwined crises. Land restoration is essential and urgently needed. Land restoration is broadly understood as a continuum of sustainable land and water management practices that can be applied to conserve or ‘rewild’ natural areas, ‘up-scale’ nature-positive food production in rural landscapes, and ‘green’ urban areas, infrastructure, and supply chains.

The Sustainable Development Goals – including Land Degradation Neutrality targets (LDN) under the UNCCD – Paris Agreement, and post-2020 global biodiversity framework provide countries, corporations, and communities with sufficiently ambitious goals and clear targets, and most importantly a blueprint for action at all levels. 6 7 When taken together, these agreed upon strategies and commitments will underpin the success of the biodiversity, climate, and land restoration agendas. The United Nations, acting as one, has a unique capacity to motivate the global community, stimulate a worldwide movement, and help secure finance for land restoration at scale. With its convening power, the UN can help build the evidence base needed to assist countries in creating incentives that shift attitudes and behavior towards regenerative, climate-resilient, and nature-positive solutions that create long term economic opportunities which are important for many poor rural communities struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To realize the promise of the land restoration agenda a human rights approach, more inclusive and responsible governance as well as increased transparency and accountability are prerequisites to deliver multiple benefits at various scales while managing competing demands.

Read further from the link above



# Discussion on Financing Clean Air and Climate Action (by Climate Policy Initiative and Clean Air Fund)
# Addressing the Climate-SDGs Synergies and Trade-offs for the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Solutions (by Food and Agriculture Organization)
# Discussion on SDG and NDC Implementation (by NDC Partnership)
# Importance of Building Decarbonization and Benefits for the SDGs (by UN Environment Programme and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction)
# Transforming Global Markets to Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances (by UN Environment Programme and United for Efficiency)
# Delivering Efficient Power Supply Networks for Southern Africa Region (by UN Environment Programme and United for Efficiency)
# Sustainable Food Cold Chains (by UN Environment Programme, Coal Coalition, FAO and IRENA)
# Maximizing Synergies for Cross-Sectoral Policy Implementation and Multilateral Partnership to Accelerate Progress for the SDGs (by United Nations Office for Sustainable Development)