News & stories

By Tina (35) Egypt via UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office My name is Tina from Egypt, and if you're reading this, you're probably as eco-curious as I am! Let me take you on a journey from my humble abode in Upper Egypt, where the golden sands meet green fields, and stories of climate change get a little twist! Imagine a farming village with chirping birds and vast green stretches. That's my home. Everyone I know is deep into agriculture. We don’t just live here; we vibe with nature! But, and here's the big BUT – most people are in the dark about climate change. The delicate dance between us and Mother Earth? It's missing a few steps. A few of us eco-warriors decided to stir things up. Composting? Check. Recycling agricultural waste? Double-check. Organic fertilizers? Oh, you bet. We’re talking about sustainable living at its finest. The best part? 300 farmers (yes, you read that right) joined the green brigade. Our baby project even landed us in the top 10 of a national competition with 150 organizations! We wanted to do more than just catch people's attention. We wanted to change our mindsets. So, we brainstormed and launched "Us and Climate Change." The plan was to equip teachers to be climate mentors, giving them the low-down on the climate crisis so they can inspire the next gen. At our recent gallery event, we showcased not just the beauty of recycling, from chic recycled outfits to innovative school tools, but also the power of performance. The spotlight was undeniably on “Al-Barsha Panorama”, our very own theatre group. In Upper Egypt, street theatre isn't just entertainment; it's an educational tool and a heartbeat that resonates deeply with our community. Our ultimate dream? A world where we can freely drink clean water, savor healthy food and take in pure, unadulterated air. With every performance, with every piece of art we create, we're advocating for that pristine environment. And while the goal is clear – an untouched landscape with unblemished access to essentials – we're also proving that blending this mission with art, special forms that connect so deeply with our people, can be both impactful and soul-stirring. Our art is our voice against climate change, and it’s making waves in our community.

I am Mona, a Jordanian residing in the Shouneh region of southern Jordan, near the Dead Sea. I am a young climate advocate specializing in environmental justice and gender equality. I collaborate with UNICEF as a youth skills empowerment trainer. I aim to raise awareness about climate change and the gendered impacts it has on my community.

مؤتمر الأمم المتحدة لمعالجة التدهور السريع للأراضي وتفاقم الجفاف سيعقد في سمرقند ، أوزبكستان ، في الفترة من 13 إلى 17 نوفمبر 2023     بون/سمرقند، 13 أيلول/سبتمبر 2023 - للمرة الأولى منذ إنشائها، ستعقد اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر أحد اجتماعاتها الرسمية في آسيا الوسطى. ستكشف الدورة الحادية والعشرون للجنة استعراض تنفيذ الاتفاقية (الدورة 21) عن أحدث الاتجاهات العالمية في مجال تردي الأراضي والجفاف، وتستعرض كيفية تقدم البلدان في مجال استصلاح الأراضي.  ويأتي ذلك في لحظة حيوية، يشهد فيها العالم ارتفاعا في الظواهر الجوية شديده الحده ، مع موجات الحر التاريخية وحرائق الغابات في جميع أنحاء أوروبا وأمريكا الشمالية، والعديد من مواسم الأمطارالغير ناجحه في القرن الأفريقي، والفيضانات المدمرة والرياح الموسمية والأعاصير في آسيا. ويسهم تردي الأراضي في هذه التغيرات والأحداث المناخية ويزداد سوءا بسببها في الوقت نفسه.   وقال إبراهيم ثياو، الأمين التنفيذي لاتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر: "نحن في منعطف حاسم في جهودنا للحفاظ على الحياة على الأرض. إن الجفاف وحرائق الغابات وموجات الحر التي شهدناها في جميع أنحاء العالم هي أعراض أزمات المناخ والطبيعة المتفاقمة والمترابطة ، حيث تقع الأرض في قلب كليهما. ومنذ عام 2015، فقدت حوالي 4 ملايين كيلومتر مربع من الأراضي الصحية والمنتجة، وهي مساحة تقارب مساحة آسيا الوسطى. يجب علينا على وجه السرعة وقف المزيد من تدهور الأراضي واستعادة ما لا يقل عن 1 مليار هكتار لتحقيق الأهداف العالمية للأراضي بحلول عام 2030 ".     سيعقد الاجتماع في" مركز مؤتمرات طريق الحرير في سمرقند "  في سمرقند ، أوزبكستان ، في الفترة من 13 إلى 17 نوفمبر 2023  . وفي 15 تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر، سيعقد حدث رفيع المستوى بشأن العواصف الرملية والترابية، التي وقع الكثير منها في أوزبكستان والبلدان والمناطق المحيطة بها بتواتروشدة متزايدين في السنوات الأخيرة. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، سيعقد تجمع المساواه بين الجنسيين التابع لاتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر في 14 تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر خبراء دوليين لمناقشة حقوق المرأة في الأراضي كشرط مسبق لنجاح الجهود العالمية لإصلاح الأراضي والقدرة على الصمود في وجه الجفاف.   وفقا لأحدث بيانات الأمم المتحدة,  بين عامي 2015 و 2019 ، تدهور ما لا يقل عن 100 مليون هكتار من الأراضي الصحية والمنتجة كل عام ، مما أثر على الأمن الغذائي والمائي على مستوى العالم وأثر بشكل مباشر على حياة 1.3 مليار شخص.      وهذا يضيف ما يصل إلى 420 مليون هكتار ، أو 4.2 مليون كيلومتر مربع ، أي ما يزيد قليلا عن المساحة المشتركة لخمس دول في آسيا الوسطى: كازاخستان وقيرغيزستان وطاجيكستان وتركمانستان وأوزبكستان. وإذا استمرت الاتجاهات الحالية، فإن استعادة 1.5 مليار هكتار من الأراضي بحلول عام 2030 ستكون ضرورية لتحقيق عالم محايد من تدهور الأراضي. وبدلا من ذلك، فإن وقف أي تدهور جديد للأراضي وتسريع الالتزامات القائمة لاستعادة 1 مليار هكتار يمكن أن يتجاوز هدف الحياد.     ستستعرض لجنة استعراض تنفيذ الاتفاقية في دورتها الحادية والعشرين التقدم المحرز في تنفيذ الأهداف الاستراتيجية للاتفاقية بشأن تعزيز الإدارة المستدامة للأراضي، وبناء القدرة على التكيف مع الجفاف، ودعم القيادة النسائية في الزراعة المستدامة، ومعالجة الهجرة القسرية بسبب تدهور الأراضي وتغير المناخ. وسيجمع ممثلين عن 196 دولة والاتحاد الأوروبي الموقعين على اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر، بالإضافة إلى المجتمع المدني والأوساط الأكاديمية والمنظمات الدولية.  ينتهي     ملاحظات للمحررين      ان ممثلي وسائل الإعلام المعتمدون مدعوون لحضور الدورة 21 للجنة استعراض تنفيذ الاتفاقية والأحداث المرتبطة بها وتقديم تقارير عنها. وستجري زيارات ميدانية حيث يمكن للصحفيين الاطلاع على مشاريع استصلاح الأراضي والقدرة على الصمود في وجه الجفاف قبل انعقاد مؤتمر استعراض تنفيذ الاتفاقية في دورتها 21 مباشرة.     التسجيل الإلكتروني لممثلي وسائل الإعلام متاح على الرابط التالي: www.unccd.int/cric-21-online-registration      للتسجيل، يرجى تقديم المستندات التالية:   • صورة شخصية حديثة بحجم صورة جواز السفر؛   • بطاقة صحفية سارية المفعول؛   • نسخة (صفحات الصور والتوقيع) من جواز سفرك (للصحفيين الأجانب) أو بطاقة الهوية الوطنية (للمتقدمين المحليين) ؛    • خطاب تعريف من رئيس المكتب أو الشركة الراعية لسفرك إلى الجلسة. بالنسبة للصحفيين المستقلين ، يلزم تقديم خطاب من المؤسسة الإعلامية التي تكلفك بتغطية المؤتمر ؛   • استمارة اعتماد معبوءة حسب الأصول.      سيتمكن الصحفيون الذين يسجلون عبر الإنترنت من الحصول على اعتمادهم في مركز مؤتمرات طريق الحرير في سمرقند عند تقديم بطاقة صحفية صالحة ووثيقة هوية.     لمزيد من المعلومات حول اللوائح التي تحكم طلبات التأشيرة وإدخال مواد الإبلاغ إلى أوزبكستان ، يرجى الرجوع إلى الرابط التالي: https://e-visa.gov.uz/main_        للاستفسارات حول اعتماد وسائل الإعلام أو تغطية الحدث، يرجى الاتصال ب: press@unccd.int       وستتاح مساحة عمل صحفية وإعلامية مخصصة في مكان انعقاد المؤتمر.    وستتاح معلومات إضافية ومعلومات مستكملة إعلامية عن الاتفاقية والدورة الحادية والعشرين للجنة استعراض تنفيذ الاتفاقية على الموقع الشبكي للجنة استعراض تنفيذ الاتفاقية في دورتها الحادية والعشرين والموقع الشبكي لاتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر.   نبذة عن اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر   اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر (UNCCD) هي الرؤية العالمية والصوت العالمي للأرض. نحن نوحد الحكومات والعلماء وصانعي السياسات والقطاع الخاص والمجتمعات حول رؤية مشتركة وعمل عالمي لاستعادة وإدارة أرض العالم من أجل استدامة البشرية والكوكب. واتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر، وهي أكثر من مجرد معاهدة دولية وقعها 197 طرفا، فهي التزام متعدد الأطراف بالتخفيف من آثار تدهور الأراضي اليوم والنهوض بإدارة الأراضي في المستقبل من أجل توفير الغذاء والماء والمأوى والفرص الاقتصادية لجميع الناس بطريقة منصفة وشاملة.      

Bonn/Vancouver, 28 August 2023 -- The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is launching a new virtual exhibition titled Her Land to showcase the transformative power of women’s leadership in sustainable land management. The exhibition was unveiled at the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility in Vancouver, Canada. Through immersive experiences and rich imagery in the digital realm, Her Land campaign harnesses the creative power of visual artists and musicians who support UNCCD to put the spotlight on the struggles and successes of women living on the frontlines of desertification, drought and climate change.  The campaign calls on governments to deliver policies that guarantee secure land tenure, motivates businesses to invest in gender-focused land restoration projects and invites the public to share stories that illustrate the bond that women share with the land they nurture. The virtual exhibition in support of Her Land campaign is spearheaded and curated by Malian artist and UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador Inna Modja. UNCCD Executive Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, commented on the campaign's ethos, "Her Land initiative transcends being merely a message. It embodies a movement, urging us to venerate the women, the land's true guardians." In the words of Inna Modja: “We must dare to invent the future. I saw that dare come to life in the resilience and bravery of communities, and within them, the fierce strength of women, relentlessly fighting to protect their land, their homes, their communities. The empowerment of women is absolutely necessary in our fight against land degradation and desertification.” Through the creative efforts of Inna Modja and Marco Conti Sikic, the campaign brings together immersive digital experiences, poignant photography and artful videos to engage and unite participants in support of a future in which women's rights to land are recognized and their contributions are celebrated.  Her Land campaign has been made possible through the generous support of the Canadian Government, the European Commission, and the Republic of Korea through the Changwon Initiative. Canada's transformative contribution of $6 million CAD is part of the country’s pioneering International Feminist International Assistance Policy that aims to advance gender equality as the cornerstone of a progressive and harmonious society.  Canada’s contribution supports the implementation of projects under UNCCD Gender Action Plan as well as meetings of the Gender Caucus during the biennial Conferences of the Parties to UNCCD.  The European Commission’s contribution aims to raise awareness on responsible land governance among all stakeholders and to promote more equal access to land and land tenure security for men and women as well as other vulnerable populations, including indigenous peoples and local communities. For its part, the Changwon Initiative, named after the UNCCD COP10 venue and coordinated by the Korea Forest Service, enables the UNCCD to be the global voice for land. The Initiative supports the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme, through which over 100 countries have set voluntary national targets to restore degraded lands.  

24 July 2023 – HEALV3RSE,a groundbreaking new game promoting real-world action for the planet, launches today on Metaverse.   HEALV3RSE, which brings together the worlds of gaming and sustainability, invites players to become the heroes our planet desperately needs. It takes players on an epic journey through captivating realms, each representing a vital element of our planet's wellbeing. From the fiery depths of the Fire Kingdom to the enchanting expanses of the Oceanic Realm, players will face challenges, solve puzzles, and embark on missions to heal the planet. As the players advance through the game, they discover facts about drylands and the challenges of desertification, making educated choices to restore these unique and vulnerable ecosystems by planting trees.  What sets HEALV3RSE apart is the unique integration of player avatars actually performing healing actions within the game, such as planting trees, conducting ocean cleanups, or installing solar panels. This interactive feature, which the creators call ‘Play to Heal’, brings a sense of empowerment to the gameplay experience.  The Game, which launches with an accompanying digital Avatar collection, was created by Code Green in support of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It was developed in partnership with The Sandbox and , designed in collaboration with Interactive Studio.  "HEALV3RSE's innovative approach is a game-changer. By merging gaming with sustainability, it amplifies the urgency of combating land loss and inspires action. This aligns with UNCCD's goals and proves that everyone can contribute to the health of our planet in their own unique ways," - said Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary.  "We are thrilled to present HEALV3RSE to the world," said Inna Modja, Code Green’s CEO and UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador. "Our goal is to inspire players to take action and make a positive impact on the planet. Through immersive gameplay and the captivating artworks, we aim to ignite a global movement of healers who understand the urgency of healing our Earth."  The Sandbox said: ‘’The Sandbox is proud to announce its partnership with Code Green, a Web3 non-profit foundation supporting social, climate, and gender justice causes. Code Green’s origins go back to the worldʼs largest land restoration movement — Africa's Great Green Wall. ‘’  A portion of the proceeds from the digital avatar collection will be used to deliver free inspiration sessions with experts, activists and artists for anyone who wants to learn more about desertification, climate action and web3 technology.   Those who support the new HEALV3RSE by purchasing special avatars will be also generating funds for one of the projects along the Great Green Wall — a game-changing African-led initiative to restore the continent’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in the Sahel.    HEALV3RSE is available to access via The Sandbox metaverse.  Trailer for HEALV3RSE in The Sandbox  For more information press@unccd.int About the UN Convention to Combat Desertification  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.  Goodwill Ambassadors inspire the public and decision-makers to take practical actions and drive policies to achieve the Convention’s mission to promote sustainable land stewardship. They also help advance efforts to reduce poverty and promote gender equality, especially among climate-vulnerable, land-dependent populations  About Code Green  Code Green is a mission-driven web3 organization, harnessing the power of art and blockchain technology to spark a healing revolution for the planet.   Inna Modja, CEO of Code Green, is a Malian actress, singer and environmental activist, and Goodwill Ambassador for the UNCCD. www.codegreen.earth @codegreen_nft  About The Sandbox  The Sandbox is a leading decentralized gaming platform where players can create, own, and monetize virtual worlds and gaming experiences.   About Interactive Studio  Interactive Studio offers comprehensive support to help brands establish themselves in the ever-changing world of Web3 and gaming.  

From potatoes grown in recycled sacks to “more crop per drop” fruit tree varieties, climate-smart and women-led agriculture initiatives became the center of discussions at a recent interregional conference convened by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.   Fertile land is a precious commodity in Tajikistan, where 90% of the country's territory is covered by mountains and 60% of the population directly depend on agriculture for livelihood. Agriculture is a major part of Tajikistan’s economy. Can you spot the colors of one of its best-loved crops in the stripes of the national flag?   As heatwaves, droughts and other extreme climate events become more frequent and severe across the globe, regional cooperation and knowledge sharing are becoming a priority in building drought resilience and fighting land degradation.   In response to these growing challenges, representatives of Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 1-2 July 2023 to discuss upscaling and coordinating legislative, educational, scientific and technical cooperation aimed at achieving Land Degradation Neutrality.  Water is so precious in Central Asia, some say it’s worth more than gold. Burrowing deep into the soil, this well in the Gissar Valley carries water that contains trace amounts of the precious metal  “Though we come from different climates and landscapes, we are united in the face of climate-induced drought and land degradation. Women who develop and test climate-smart and cost-effective solutions locally should be the ones spearheading regional and global efforts to grow and protect our food in the times of climactic stress,” participants stated.  Reflecting the theme of this year's Desertification and Drought Day “Her Land. Her Rights”, discussions centered on the key role of civil society organizations, particularly those led by women, in harnessing donor financing and advancing legislative action in support of gender-responsive land restoration projects that provide sustainable rural livelihoods.   Apples are the most popular fruit worldwide, and so are new ways to grow them more efficiently  After attending a training series at the Youth Ecological Center in Dushanbe, Mavluda Akhmedova is using the technology of growing potatoes directly in recycled sacks on her homestead in the Dekhanabod village. This approach has proven particularly effective as more frequent and sudden heatwaves and droughts in Tajikistan raise the risk of harvest loss. Growing potatoes in sacks lets the farmers control the temperature and humidity better and is of particular use on small plots where growing space is at a premium.  Greenhouses at the Agricultural University in Dushanbe use the latest technology, encouraging the students to test new approaches to efficient and sustainable crop production   During a visit to an experimental farm in the Gissar District, participants learned how students from Agricultural University in Dushanbe test classroom knowledge to implement the “more crop per drop” approach on their 800 hectares under tillage, including a fruit orchard, a vineyard and pasture.   Nothing tastes better than bread fresh from the oven! Farm-to-table is the way of life at the experimental farm of the Agricultural University of Dushanbe  The university hopes that new investments and focus on research, smart tech and innovation will bring more female students to the classrooms and labs.   Using compact varieties of fruit trees combined with drip irrigation means less water, less labour and less land are needed to produce comparable crop yields  By the end of 2023, Tajikistan intends to complete the process of joining the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target-setting programme, bringing the number of countries who set voluntary LDN targets to 130, including all Central Asian nations.  Furthermore, participation in the World Bank’s RESILAND CA+ Initiative will allow Tajikistan to access the knowledge base of other engaged countries – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – and train forest management and rangelands biodiversity specialists. Women are expected to become the majority of RESILAND CA+ projects’ participants and beneficiaries.   Photography by Didor Sadulloev via UNDP Tajikistan