Statements

Chairman, Distinguished delegates, Distinguished representatives from the civil society and international organisations, I welcome you all to this important session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention. Leaning on an idea that the Secretary-General expressed in his recent speech to the General Assembly, I would like to remind everybody who has taken the time and made the effort to join us here in this beautiful country of Côte d’Ivoire, that: we come together at COP or any its subsidiary bodies on behalf of the people of this planet. Citing the charter of the United Nations, the Secretary-General reminded us that all our efforts, our activities and aspirations should be geared towards improving peoples’ lives, enhancing their opportunities for financial growth, but also improving their socio-economic situations at home. The road to this meeting has been long and sometimes bumpy, but together you have laid a solid foundation for our work. The 19th intersessional session of the CRIC, convened in March 2021, had to take place virtually due to the pandemic. Despite the challenges of meeting and exchanging ideas and knowledge online, you, the Parties, expressed appreciation for the fact that CRIC 19 enabled you to come together and prepare substantively for COP. I would like, again, to thank Mr. Andrew Bishop, CRIC Chair for his leadership and the excellent job done at CRIC 19. I would also like to thank the rapporteur of the CRIC, Mr. Hussein Nasrallah, for the excellent job in summarizing the debates which fed into the final report of CRIC 19, and which will be discussed during this session. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, Please allow me to briefly highlight the substantive agenda items before us today and in the coming days. We have a lot to cover to provide targeted recommendations to the COP. During this session, you will have the opportunity a to review information on the SDG process and how it links to the implementation of our Convention. We must be proud of that and be proud to have succeeded in directly linking our work with that of the SDG process through the land degradation neutrality target setting programme and national reporting. As of today, a total of 129 countries have committed to set land degradation neutrality targets, 106 of which have successfully completed this voluntary process. In 2019, an analysis of national reports submitted to the UNCCD conservatively estimated that on average 20% of the global land area is degraded to some extent; this is an area nearly the size of Africa. The Global Land Outlook, our flagship report which was launched just a couple of weeks ago, has confirmed that of the 70% of all land on Earth altered by humanity, 20 to 40% of it is degraded. This is daunting. It is thanks to your contribution that SDG indicator 15.3.1 “the proportion of land that is degraded over total land area” was upgraded to the tier 1 level in November 2019.  This means that there is confidence in the credibility of the data you provided for this indicator. This is a tremendous success! Without your input, your data or the submission of your reports, this would have not been possible.  I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for this and encourage you to contribute to the continuous success of this process by submitting updated information on this indicator throughout the 2022 reporting process. Moving forward in the agenda, you will be able to share experiences and knowledge about capacity building through a panel discussion which will help you identify how to best implement UNCCD’s mandate. During this session, you will also have an opportunity to continue discussing financial issues and review information provided by both the Global Environment Facility and the Global Mechanism on funding opportunities available to Parties for an effective implementation of the Convention. At the beginning of April, 29 countries agreed to pledge the record support of US 5.25 billion dollars for the GEF-8 replenishment period, a nearly 30 percent increase in funding compared to the previous period. The increase in GEF resources comes at a critical moment as many countries around the world are facing multiple challenges – from drought to conflicts, to the ongoing pandemic, all of which could turn policy attention away from sustainable development and land restoration as a vehicle to deliver multiple benefits.  With the 2022 reporting process currently ongoing, the issue of national reporting is also high on the agenda of this session. By combining cutting-edge geospatial information, technology and services, our new reporting platform, PRAIS 4, sets the foundations for future innovation in reporting and, more broadly, for a UNCCD data driven transformation in line with the Secretary-General’s Data Strategy. The use of Earth Observation data and tools in support of decision-making and monitoring at the national and global level will not only allow the Convention to continue contributing to the SDG reporting and review process, but it will also aid prioritization of interventions, increase visibility and transparency of progress in the implementation of the Convention, and enhance our credibility at the international level. Last but not least, you will jump start the discussion on the multi-year work plan for the next 4 years which will be taken up by the budget contact group later in this COP Indeed important agenda items that will lead us to take decisions that should prioritize people and ecosystems. The CRIC is central to this important process and I do hope you will be able to seize this opportunity in this beautiful city of Abidjan to do exactly that. Personally, it fills me with pride to see this plenary full of people willing to discuss these important issues, to reach  a common approach of how we want to create a better place for people to live and in a sustainable and productive manner. I look forward to your lively debates and fruitful exchanges. Thank you

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Colleagues and friends. Welcome to Drought Day – an important moment to discuss how to increase action on drought prevention and resilience. An important moment to showcase effective policies and projects from across the globe. An important moment to send a message to Parties that we need a strong decision on drought at this UNCCD COP. I have vivid memories of the devastation that a drought caused in my hometown in Mauritania in the 1970s. First, our water supply drained. Then our crops failed. Finally, our livestock perished. The risk of famine loomed over our village for months. These memories still haunt me. But for hundreds of millions of people today, these are not memories. They are a brutal reality, and a consequence of the climate and environmental crises. The land is drying up. Fertile grounds are turning to dust. Drought prevails. Friends, If we stay on our current course, more of us will live with extreme water shortages – including an estimated one in four children by 2040. We must act decisively to prevent this future. We must deal with drought, using every tool at our disposal. We know what these tools are. Land restoration is one. A simple and easily accessible one. It removes carbon from the atmosphere, slowing the climate change that drives droughts. It helps vulnerable communities adapt. It increases agricultural production. Land restoration commitments covering almost one billion hectares are in place for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We must deliver on these commitments. But restoration is not enough. We need to protect and manage the land. We need sustainable and efficient management techniques that grow more food with less land and water. We need to change our relationships with food, fodder and fibre – by diversifying our diets and reducing waste, among other measures. We also need coordination, communication and cooperation to deal with the complex causes and impacts of drought. With proactive national drought policies and a joined-up approach to managing natural resources, we can mitigate the effects of drought. We should set up effective early warning systems that work across boundaries. New technologies – such as satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence – offer guidance for early warning and precision for informed decisions. We should also mobilize sustainable finance to improve resilience at the local level. Because investing in soil health makes business sense.  According to recent economic analyses, every dollar invested in land restoration can generate up to 30 dollars in ecosystem services. Friends, We are moving forward. 128 countries have expressed political will to achieve or exceed Land Degradation Neutrality. 66 countries have taken part in the recently completed UNCCD’s Drought initiative to shift to a proactive and risk-based approach to drought. But we need to do more. And we will only succeed if we work together. We must commit to pursuing concerted policy and partnerships at all levels. We need to mobilize farmers, local communities, small and medium sized enterprises, consumers, green investors, green entrepreneurs and young people. Today, and at this COP, we have a real chance to drive increased action. So, I ask you to build on the growing momentum. To come out of this COP with a robust and actionable decision on drought. Such a decision – implemented with ingenuity, commitment and solidarity – would take us a long way. It would motivate action towards sustainable practices in land and water management. It would build our resilience to drought and slow climate change. It would allow current and future generations to thrive, instead of just survive. And that, dear friends, is why we are here today. Thank you.

Distinguished Chair, Distinguished delegates, Colleagues and scientists, Ladies and gentlemen, AKWABA! I am delighted that you can all be here to attend, in person, the 15th session of the Committee on Science and Technology. I would like to give a special thank you to Côte d’Ivoire for their generosity in hosting us in this beautiful city of Abidjan. I would like to congratulate the Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology, vice Chairs of the Committee, as well as the co-chair of the Science Policy Interface (SPI) and all others who serve on the SPI, for your commitment and dedication. I commend you for your perseverance in working to ensure a scientific foundation for policy development, even in the face of countless challenges you have faced in the last two years, also due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chair, delegates and colleagues, The Hausa, one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, have a proverb that says “He who takes care of trees will not suffer from hunger”. This proverb is explanatory of an enduring culture that has a deep respect for nature, extensive knowledge rooted in the wisdom of its ancestors, that is applied in land management practices.  The theme of this COP - ‘Land. Life. Legacy: From scarcity to prosperity', is a call for action to ensure land, the lifeline on this planet, continues to benefit present and future generations.  This call for action is also a response to alarms sounded by the global scientific community which make it very clear: there is no more time to waste.  The recently released second edition of the Global Land Outlook confirms this urgency, providing an overview of the unprecedented magnitude of land degradation, the negative global trends, and the projected consequences of 3 different scenarios: 1)   More than 70% of land surface have been transformed from their natural state, and as much as 40% of that land is no longer productive; 2)  This directly affects half of humanity and threatens half of global GDP – a staggering US$44 trillion in total; 3)  If business as usual continues through 2050, additional degradation of an area almost the size of South America will happen; However, the Global Land Outlook 2 also points to measures for implementing land restoration efforts that can counteract these trends.  The GLO2 scenarios demonstrate that when restoration activities are increased by the conservation of natural areas, we can move from no net loss by 2030 to a clear net positive trend thereafter. And if we optimize what we do and where we do it, we can simultaneously address the land dimensions of water scarcity, biodiversity loss and climate change. All while helping bridge the growing food gap, bringing vitality to places where economic growth and stability are most needed. Chair, delegates, and colleagues, As we know, science in sustainable development has at least three roles to play: 1) providing an essential evidence base for what has happened, informing decision-makers on pathways forward, and communicating to the public, so as to enable actions. In the past two days, we have seen an impressive commitment by Heads of State and Government, Ministers, and other senior high-level delegates. The world is becoming aware of unhealthy land: we are gaining momentum and this opportunity must be seized: to advance policy which will support restoration of land as a continuum ranging from conservation, sustainable use through to ecological rehabilitation to restoration, and enhance the resilience of ecosystems and communities to the increasing risk of disasters and diseases, especially catastrophic impacts of drought exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable land management. Today, we are gathering as the scientific subsidiary body of the Convention to continue our journey towards a consensus on scientific evidence-based policy-oriented recommendations to enable actions to achieve this shared political commitment and vision. The Fifteenth Session of the Committee on Science and Technology in 2022 will be of critical significance for a number of reasons. CST15 coincides with the UN General Assembly’s International Year of Basic Science for Sustainable Development, and the consensus that we need more basic sciences to achieve Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  Science is not only advancing our understanding of nature but also advancing the ways and means we observe and communicate with science. Particular relevance should be given to the outcomes of the SPI scientific assessments, notably on:  the role of integrated land use planning & integrated landscape management in the achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality, the approaches on assessment and monitoring of resilience of ecosystems and communities to drought at multiple scales,   comprehensive analysis on the two IPCC reports. We also expect the CST to consider the SPI proposals for its future work programme for 2022-2023 including assessments on sustainable land use systems and historical regional and global aridity trends and future projections.   We look forward to the CST 15’s consideration of the main recommendations. As the Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming said over 400 years ago, it is essential to ensure “the integrity of knowledge and action, where knowledge is the start of action, and action is the outcome of knowledge.”  As you work to build consensus, we look forward to a CST 15 actionable policy recommendations, where scientific knowledge is the start of the critical actions needed to ensure land can deliver on its full potential in accelerating all of the Sustainable Development Goals. I wish you success.

His Excellency Alassane Dramane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Mr Alain-Richard Donwahi, President of the UNCCD COP15, Excellences, Ministers and Heads of Delegations, CEO of the Global Environment Facility, Dear Delegates, Representatives of International Organisations internationales et de la Société Civile, Chers collègues des Nations-Unies, Mesdames et messieurs les Ambassadeurs de la Terre de UNCCD Honorables invités, Mesdames et messieurs, First, let me offer, on behalf of the Secretariat, my warm congratulations to our new President of COP15, Mr Alain Donwahi after his brilliant election today. We are truly looking forward to working with you and benefiting from your wisdom. Jennifer Richard Jacobson, a Children’s author once said “Elephants love reunions; they recognize one another after years and years of separation and greet each other with wild, boisterous joy.” After a tough - more than - 2 years of separation and difficulty for the whole planet, allow me to greet you and welcome you to Abidjan - and to COP15 - with genuine joy. I mention elephants today because in addition to being magnificent animals and the symbol of our generous hosts - Cote d’Ivoire - they are also the national animal of our outgoing COP President India, whom I would like to thank for their inspirational leadership. Indeed, it is not just our past and current hosts. Many cultures around the world see the elephant as a symbol of strength, intelligence, determination, wisdom, and success.  All useful characteristics in the UNCCD process! Elephants resonate with UNCCD on many other levels too.  The elephant is the largest land animal.  Like humans, elephants need extensive land areas to survive and meet their ecological needs - food, water and space. On average, an elephant can feed up to 18 hours and consume a hundred kilograms of food and 100 litres of water in a single day.  So, like us, elephants rely on healthy and productive terrestrial ecosystems.  Like us, the elephant can survive only if the land survives. And like us, though led by a matriarch, elephants are organized into supportive, complex social structures. The elephant thrives when the herd is resilient and thrives.  Dear Parties, Since our last COP in India, the world has changed. COVID19 has been a major disruptor. Conflicts, disasters and economic crisis have created multiple consequences, including more land degradation in the world. However, the UNCCD family has proved to be remarkably resilient. While it is not the time to trumpet success, I am happy to note major progress achieved in different parts of the world, thanks to you, Parties to, and Partners of the UNCCD. First, we note a remarkable increase in visibility and interest on the issues of Land Degradation and Drought; the issue has risen on the political agenda. The world is looking at this COP15 is an epitome, and this is largely due to President Alassane Ouattara and his Government.  Second, the launch -under the Saudi Presidency- of the G20 Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing the Conservation of Terrestrial Ecosystems - to halve the amount of degraded land by 2040 - is an important milestone.  We are delighted to host the initiative coordination unit. Third: Large-scale land restoration programs are growing across the world, a clear recognition of their importance as providing multiple solutions to a world in crisis. Take the example of the Africa’s GGW. Last year, while the world was still looking for a vaccine to the COVID19, the Programme received a major political and financial support with USD 19 billion dollars pledged to 2025 at the One Planet Summit in Paris. Similar large-scale initiatives have also been launched in the Middle East, in India, China, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Central America and Pakistan, to name just a few. The Launch of the Abidjan Legacy Programme just two days ago comes as a timely addition to an already impressive list. Other potentially game-changing initiatives are being shaped. Fourth: The launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is galvanizing partners around a common and revitalized agenda. We are happy to see UNEP and FAO playing a lead role. Countries and few companies seem to be making determined progress towards the achievement of a Land in balance, otherwise known in the UNCCD as Land Degradation Neutrality. Ladies and Gentlemen,   The case for land restoration made by the UNCCD report, the Global Land Outlook, is convincing. From rates of return on investments in restoration at between 7 and 30 USD to the unequivocal evidence on the relationship between land AND climate, biodiversity, food, energy, water, jobs and economy - the case of land has never been clearer. Partnerships with critical technical and financial partners are emerging or evolving to turn these voluntary commitments into action. I congratulate the GEF and its partners for the recent highly successful GEF8 replenishment.  But I also warmly welcome those partners increasingly committing to work with the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD. So, despite the challenges of the last 2 years, we have made incredible progress. I thank all of you, dear Parties and partners, for that.  But, of course, we there is still much left to do.  Excellence monsieur le Président de la République, Honorables délégués, L’autre sujet de grande préoccupation est la sécheresse. Au moment où se tient cette conférence, vingt millions de personnes font face à une sécheresse jamais enregistrée en 40 ans en Afrique de l’Est. Des États-Unis d’Amérique à l’Europe, de l’Afrique à l’Asie, du Moyen-Orient à l’Amérique Latine, les sécheresses entraînent pertes économiques et dommages écologiques, pertes de production et fissures sociales. Dans des cas extrêmes, sécheresse rime avec crise humanitaire, voire pertes en vies humaines. On estime à 650’000, le nombre de décès directement causés par la sécheresse au cours des 40 dernières années. En effet, dans un rapport que nous publions sur la sécheresse à l’occasion de la COP15, les conclusions sont sévères. Au cours des vingt dernières années, le nombre et la durée des sécheresses ont augmenté de 29%. Selon certaines estimations, les sécheresses pourraient affecter trois-quarts de la population mondiale d’ici la moitié du siècle courant. Ces phénomènes climatiques deviennent ainsi de plus en plus violents. Dans les pays plus vulnérables, les sécheresses sont à l’origine de catastrophes humanitaires majeures. Le Groupe de travail inter-gouvernemental que la COP14 avait constitué à produire un rapport, qui est soumis à votre attention. Je tiens à remercier les membres du Groupe de Travail qui, malgré le COVID, ont pu fournir à votre attention un rapport de qualité, destiné à soutenir les Parties dans leurs délibérations. Votre Secrétariat reste naturellement mobilisé pour continuer à faire le plaidoyer à sensibiliser les acteurs politiques et le grand public, sur les multiples conséquences de la sécheresse. Nous encourageons les Parties à développer et surtout mettre en œuvre, leurs plans nationaux de lutte contre la sécheresse. Cette année, dans le cadre de la célébration de la Journée internationale sur la Désertification et la Sécheresse prévue le 17 juin de chaque année, le thème central est justement la Sécheresse. Nous remercions l’Espagne pour avoir offert d’abriter les célébrations globales de la Journée. L’Espagne, à l’instar d’autres pays d’à travers le monde, devriendrait, le temps des célébrations, un «DroughtLand». Des passeports et des visas seront émis pour tous ceux qui souhaitent faire le voyage vers ces pays imaginaires. Merci à l’Espagne et à tous les pays qui offriront des passeports «DroughtLand» Je vous souhaite une très bonne Conférence. Merci.

Excellency, President of UNCCD COP14, H. E. Patrick Achi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Excellencies Ministers, High Level Officials Representatives of International Organisations, Representatives of Civil Society, Ladies and gentlemen, First, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to H.E. Patrick Achi, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, for honouring us with your presence today. Mr Prime Minister, may I kindly ask you to convey our deep gratitude to the people of Côte d’Ivoire, to President Alassane Ouattara and to the entire Government, for offering us such a warm welcome in this beautiful country. Ministers, Ladies and gentlemen, Every COP is important. Each has its characteristics. To my mind, this one is, however, particularly special. We are still reeling from the consequences of major disruptions that affect our food, energy, industry and economy. From the pandemic to major conflicts. From the climate crisis to nature and land loss. Never before in history, has humanity faced so many complex challenges. Never before, have so many humans depended on so little arable land. Never before, have our land and soils been so damaged. And – fortunately - never before, has a generation been in a such a powerful position to change the course of history for the better. To deploy so much science, knowledge and financial resources in making and implementing the right decisions. The findings of the Global Land Outlook published just over a week ago cannot be clearer: we can either shrink or grow our economy by half. If we continue with current production and consumption patterns, we will also continue to damage the global economy. Already, every second person on the planet is affected by land loss. Which is why, I think this is the most important COP in the history of the UNCCD. In terms of both the complexity and the urgency of the issues we need to address.   Indeed, there are less than 8 years and 3 or 4 COPs left to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. But 20 million people in the Horn of Africa suffering from the most severe drought in over 40 years can’t wait that long. 700 million people would have no choice but to flee, as their productive land degrades. With women and girls still carrying most of the burden and few of the benefits. Let me be clear: this isn’t just the poor peoples’ problem. If global food prices are hurting from the war in Ukraine, how will they react to the US losing 40% of its maize crops to pests? If global health systems and businesses are hurting from the cost of the pandemic, how will they react to paying $2 trillion a year for more zoonotic diseases? And if the global economy is already faltering from pandemic and war, how will it react to output being halved because we mismanaged the natural capital supporting everything we eat and drink; the same land that produces the clothes we wear, and the air we breathe. Excellencies, While the diagnosis is frightening, procrastination and inaction scare me a lot more. The longer we wait, the more complex these issues will be, the more difficult and costly our actions will be, and the more terrifying the consequences will be too. That’s why one of the scenarios in the Global Outlook shows how we can increase global GDP up to 50% by 2050 if we take action now to restore and conserve 35% of our global land. It offers practical and pragmatic solutions to achieve this. For example, over the next 10 years, investing just a fifth of the finances currently spent on harmful subsidies could restore land the size of China - increasing the productivity of our soils and the quality of our food. In other words, investing tax-payers money to protect their assets, not to destroy their lives. Indeed, if we leverage the natural synergies between the Rio Conventions for land, biodiversity and climate change, we can not only reverse destructive trends, but also: accelerate progress across every single Sustainable Development Goal. and multiply opportunities for a sustainable post-pandemic recovery. Excellencies, This COP offers us a unique opportunity to share our combined experiences and renew our collective commitments to protect our planet. To protect ourselves. This High-Level Segment will facilitate open and honest discussions about land regeneration and stewardship, the futures of our young people and our consumption habits, and the path to both drought resilience and economic recovery. But I also need your support to ramp up the speed and ambition of all COP negotiations. The Abidjan COP is a generational opportunity to tackle desertification, degradation and drought. To deliver spill over benefits for biodiversity, security, equality and the economy before climate change tips them beyond our reach. To save lives. Millions of them. Now. And that, ladies and gentlemen is a chance we may never get back. Which is why, I say again, this is the most important COP in the history of the UNCCD. Thank you.

Excellencies, The Great Green Wall is an historic opportunity. An opportunity for the Sahel - and for each of the GGW states - to deliver something truly remarkable. A renaissance for land and the natural world.  And - just as important - true resilience and a renaissance for communities on the frontline of climate change and poverty. The GGW is an inspiration and a beacon of hope for humanity worldwide. At a time when people need inspiration and hope.  For that Excellencies, you are to be congratulated. However, projects of this ambition and magnitude do not materialize on inspiration and hope alone. They need financial support.  Good governance.  And coordinated action. The pledges made at the One Planet Summit in January 2021 totaled USD19 billion for the period until 2025.  So, while progress is there, we cannot congratulate ourselves. Hope is not yet turning into action at the scale or pace you aspire to.  Because collectively, we are struggling to turn those pledges into projects and investments.  Understandably, this is leading to frustrations. There are, indeed, lots of bottlenecks. To my mind though, two critical bottlenecks have emerged. Coordination at national level. The complexity of accessing financing – the donor system. Firstly, I am convinced genuine national ownership – led by you, your Excellencies - and a national coalition for action would make progress happen faster.  In each country, the GGW is a massive undertaking.  With the best will in the world, neither the national Agency of the GGW, as currently set up, nor a single line ministry can make all the necessary wheels turn.  At national level, a more joined-up “all of government” response is needed.  The Ministry of Planning and Development or Treasury have an important role to play.  Along with the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, Infrastructure or Energy as technical focal points. Concerned local authorities, the private sector, civil society and research should be fully engaged.  But government – at all levels – can take steps to assume its responsibilities more effectively.  In the case of Senegal, we noted the creation of Presidential Council, led by his Excellency President Macky Sall, that is guiding and accelerating this work in Senegal.  Each country will need to establish their own institutional framework. We would however suggest you consider setting up a political oversight, close to you.   Secondly though, we would all acknowledge that the current system for accessing the pledged financing is complex and cumbersome at best. International partners are better coordinated than ever around a common results framework.  But to access the financing, currently, your officials must navigate the different processes and timelines of the ten international partners who have committed to support you.  Accessing much of the funds will take a great deal of upfront investment of staff resources and a considerable time.  With your bold and ambitious timeline, this business-as-usual approach will not work. As Heads of State and Government, you might consider requesting the simplification and streamlining of the way financing is channeled to you – potentially through a common window, joint assessment or more co-funding of projects. You may want to task your Ministries in charge of Planning or Economy to lead the Programmatic Coordination with donors. We may need to follow adequate, perhaps specific procedures. It is certainly recommended that each Government set up a robust programmatic team to unlock the financing.      Excellencies, a Sahelian renaissance awaits.  With the restoration of land and nature and the right investments for a resilient and vibrant future, we can capitalize on the inspiration and hope and the unique opportunity that the GGW offers.  Thank you.

In Pursuit of Gender Equality for Strong Land Stewardship S.E. Mme Dominique Ouattara, Première Dame de Côte d’Ivoire; merci de votre leadership et votre intérêt manifeste à ce Caucus Genre. S.E Dr Mariam Mint Mohamed Vadel Ould Dah, Première Dame de Mauritanie. Merci madame, d’être venue, particulièrement, pour cet événement,   S.E Mr Abdulla Shahid, President de l’Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies. Merci aussi, monsieur le Président, d’avoir tenu à participer à cet événement.      S.E. Mme Amina Mohamed, Vice-Secrétaire Générale des Nations-Unies. Merci madame, pour votre vision et votre courage.               Je salue également tous mes collègues ici présents: Chefs d’Agence des Nations-Unies et représentants d’Organisations Internationales. Distingués invités, Mesdames et messieurs, J’éprouve un immense plaisir à vous souhaiter la cordiale bienvenue à cet événement de haut-niveau sur le genre, organisé au premier jour de la Conférence des Parties de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la Lutte contre la Désertification (UNCCD). Je savoure d’autant plus ce plaisir que nous sommes de nouveau en mesure de nous retrouver dans cette salle, après une longue et difficile période de restrictions sanitaires. Permettez-moi avant tout, d’exprimer toute ma gratitude à nos généreux hôtes à savoir le peuple et le Gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire. Nos remerciements s’adressent en particulier à vous, madame la Première Dame, Dominique Ouattara. L’enthousiasme avec lequel vous présidez à cet événement et votre soutien sans faille, sont notés avec une grande satisfaction. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The negotiations on land degradation and drought at this COP are the most important in the UNCCD’s history and they can only succeed if they are built on balanced foundations, which must include gender equality. The conclusions of the study we’re presenting today are sobering. The study demonstrates that women and girls are particularly vulnerable to impacts of land degradation and droughts.    For example, when drought hits a region, food and water become naturally scarce. This affects the way food is distributed within a family. Women, the study found, tend to eat smaller portions or skip meals. They give priority to members of their family, starting with young children.  In least developed countries, agriculture is the main livelihood for nearly 80% of employed women. Yet, more often than not, they do not own the land – only 23% in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and just 4% in the Middle East and North Africa. Think about it: if we bring 100 people from that region with land titles to this room, only 4 of them will be women. And limited rights mean limited access to loans, credits, services and training, stacking the odds against the very people working the land and perpetuating poverty. Nothing stable can be built  with half the foundation missing, so there will be no sustainable development if half of humanity and half of our producers are left on the sidelines. This vicious cycle of poverty must be turned into a virtuous one of prosperity by unleashing the transformative power of women and girls to heal land and soil. They are achieving many of the land restoration successes, often with little support or recognition. In West Africa for example, women are involved in major land restoration initiatives such as the Great Green Wall.   In the Middle East and North Africa, they undertake land conservation and restoration initiatives that bring food security. Where water is scarce, they find innovative or traditional solutions like as fog harvesting, which we have seen in Morocco. Examples are plentiful from around the world where women and girl exercise their leadership on land restoration. Unnoticed and unpaid. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues, Now is the time for action with inclusion and solidarity. To halt climate change and reverse biodiversity loss and land degradation we cannot ignore half of the population. This is a decisive decade, where we need to: ·      Change our mindsets ·      Invest heavily in education, training and access to sustainable technologies for millions of women and girls ·      Facilitate the inclusion of women into the financial system ·      Dismantle all barriers and eliminate laws and practices that prevent women and girls from accessing and using land Our UNCCD Convention is about the people and the planet. Healthy land for healthy people and healthy economies. All people. Not just half of them. With that in mind, I invite you to join « The Abidjan Declaration on Achieving Gender Equality for Successful Land Restoration". I also invite you to commit and act to improve the lives and dignity of women and girls facing the formidable daily challenges of drought, land degradation and desertification. Thank you.

Mesdames, messieurs, Bienvenue à la COP15 ! Avec la permission du Président Ouattara, je vous dis AKWABA. Bienvenue à Abidjan. De San Pedro à Korogho, de Man à Boundoukou, de Aboisso à Odienne : la Côte d’Ivoire dispose de ce magnétisme extraordinaire, cette hospitalité exceptionnelle qui explique pourquoi ce pays attire autant de talents et de touristes. AKWABA, au pays de la plus grande basilique au monde. Au pays des mystérieux ponts de liane dont on attribue la construction aux génies de la forêt. AKWABA, au pays des diversités culturelle et cultuelle, dans l’unicité. Au pays de l’inclusion dont on admire la tolérance et le vivre-ensemble, ancrés dans la culture de la parenté à plaisanterie. Peu importe qu’on l’appella Tu-pké, Sanakouya ou Rakiré, cette tradition, remontant pourtant à 1235, décrispe les tensions entre communautés et caractérise la tolérance, la diplomatie, et la réconciliation sociale. Monsieur le Président, Majesté, Excellences, Mesdames et messieurs, Nous sommes réunis dans le cadre de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la Lutte contre la Désertification, un traité universel, fort de 197 Parties. Au cœur des préoccupations de cet Accord de la génération de Rio, se posent les problématiques de la sécheresse et de la dégradation des terres. Les cycles de sécheresse sont observés depuis des siècles. Cependant, les fréquence et intensité notées ces dernières années ont une corrélation désormais avérée avec le changement climatique. La sécheresse a ceci de vicieux qu’elle érode l’économie et désagrège les sociétés. La sécheresse n’est pas seulement un déficit pluviométrique. La sécheresse porte un visage humain affectant les plus vulnérables, y compris les éleveurs, les petits producteurs, les femmes et les enfants. Lorsqu’elle se manifeste sous forme de feux de brousse ou de forêt, la sécheresse laisse des traces indélébiles : la nature est défigurée. Aucune région du monde, aucun pays n’est immunisé contre la sécheresse. Mais tous les pays ne sont pas logés à la même enseigne. On le sait trop bien désormais : lorsque survient une épidémie, les sujets immuno-déficitaires demeurent les plus vulnérables aux virus. Par analogie, les pays les plus démunis sont toujours les plus vulnérables aux sécheresses. Quant à la dégradation des terres, nos études les plus récentes ont révélé qu’un habitant sur deux dans le monde est affecté par la perte de la productivité des terres. Jusqu’à 40% de la superficie du globe connaît une forme de dégradation des milieux terrestres. Les risques économiques sont sévères : jusqu’à la moitié du PIB mondial pourrait être affecté. Au-delà, nos études ont aussi démontré que les pertes de terres fertiles entraînent des conséquences sur la santé humaine. La perte des terres productives amplifient les migrations ; elle provoque pauvreté, troubles sociaux et insécurité. La dégradation des terres émet du carbone, exacerbe le changement climatique et la perte de la biodiversité. Enfin, les pertes de terres productives exacerbent les inégalités : les petits producteurs étant étouffés économiquement et socialement. Les femmes rurales productrices sont généralement reléguées au bout de la chaîne ; elles sont souvent dépossédées des petits lopins de terre où elles étaient confinées. Nos études ont révélé que même en ce 21ème siècle, les femmes sont privées de l’héritage de leur époux décédé dans plus de cent de pays dans le monde. Majesté, Excellences, Il est maintenant établi qu’un leader qui perd ses terres productives est assimilable à un pilote qui connaît une soudaine perte d’altitude, voire une perte de contrôle de son aéronef. C’est à ce titre que nous saluons vivement la présence à cette Conférence, de Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement, qui saisissent toute la centralité de ces questions. La gestion des terres concerne autant l’agriculture que l’économie, la sécurité que l’environnement, la diplomatie que l’administration territoriale; autant la forêt que la recherche scientifique ; autant la société civile que les communes rurales. La terre nous nourrit. La terre nous vétit. Elle nous fournit l’eau que nous buvons, autant que l’air que nous respirons. De la santé de nos sols, dépend notre économie ainsi que notre propre santé. Mais il y a espoir. Et vous me permettrez de conclure par ce point. La dégradation des terres n’est pas une fatalité. La réparation est possible. En effet, la restauration des terres dégradées est réalisable à moindre coût. Investir dans la réparation des terres dégradées est donc économiquement rentable ; techniquement faisable ;  socialement souhaitable et bien entendu, écologiquement profitable. Chaque unité monétaire investie dans la restauration des terres peut générer jusqu’à 30 fois sa valeur. Au niveau mondial, jusqu’à 50 points de PIB pourraient ainsi être gagnés d’ici 2050. Pourvu qu’on prenne le virage maintenant. Et de manière décisive. Une sagesse africaine ne dit-elle pas : «quand la tête est là, le genou ne doit pas prétendre porter le chapeau».  Je vous remercie.

Honorable Ministers, colleagues, and friends. Firstly.  Thank you.  It is a great pleasure being here – even if virtually. The Sahel is seen as the crucible of existential challenges. Irregular migration, armed conflicts, non-state actors, terrorism and organized crime, as well as poverty and food insecurity. Yet amazing things can happen if we have the commitment and passion of political leaders. With faith and investment in the ingenuity of the people.  And with a bold and joint international response and actions. The Great Green Wall is such an example! True, in the back of our minds, we have always thought of the Great Green Wall as an impossible dream.    But that is no longer the case.  And we must adjust our mindsets. Slowly but surely, the Great Green Wall Initiative is regreening the Sahel; restoring degraded lands and providing decent livelihoods for its people; snaking the Sahel all the way from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East; restoring degraded lands and providing jobs and opportunities for millions of people in Africa. In January 2021, US$ 19 billion has been pledged at the One Planet Summit. This is a huge commitment from the international community. The partners committed themselves to work at an accelerated pace. We have collectively agreed to a harmonized results framework. National coalitions are being set up. There is a real sense of buzz about the Great Green Wall.  In Africa and around the world. And that is critical.  In a world that looks at the Sahel region and sees only despair, the Great Green Wall offers hope. In a world struggling to work out what “building back better”, or climate resilience or sustainable development or nature-based solution really looks like, the Great Green Wall makes tangible and practical sense. The concept of the GGW works because it addresses the loss of natural resources - as the root cause of a myriad of other challenges. But it also works because it is rewriting the narrative of the Sahel - restoring lost livelihoods and generating jobs and income for the people.  There is bold African leadership. There is a plan to harness the potential of the region and its people.  And the international community has rallied and is getting coordinated. The 11 GGW countries have a huge role to play, to make it happen. The good news is, it can be done. It must be done. It will be done. And today we are here to discuss how we will get it done – faster and most effectively. Pipelines of bankable projects are emerging, though I have to admit, projects are only slowly emerging. As your loyal and unwavering partner, the UNCCD is committed to help sweep away the many bottlenecks to action at the national level. More than a year has passed since the pledges were made. However, implementation remains scanty. There are multiple administrative hurdles that are slowing us down; bureaucratic issues are preventing people of the Sahel from having access to resources they badly need. These challenges must be overcome quickly, if we want to turn the tide on the vicious circle observed in the Sahel.  For long, we have been advising to bring together honorable environment with treasury and planning Ministers to unlock some of the challenges that have been observed. Indeed, we hope that countries will use an “all of government” approach to getting it done – faster and with more direct benefits to the people of the Region. Allow me to insist on the role of Ministers of Finance, Economy or Planning. The pledges made last year will be delivered with the full participation of fund authorization officers at the national level. Through an integrated approach where different sectoral departments will be brought together: from agriculture to the environment; from energy to livestock; from local authorities to civil society and research. The GGW belongs to all: youth; women; farmers and pastoralists. In short, the GGW will be achieved with the people of the Sahel. Or will never be. Thank you all for being here. Together, I am sure we can make it happen. Thank you.

Excellence Monsieur le Ministre, Monsieur le Président du Groupe Africain, Honorables représentants de la Commission de l’Union Africaine de le Banque Africaine de Développement   Honorables délégués, Mesdames et Messieurs Permettez-moi, à l’entame de mes propos, d’exprimer l’immense plaisir que j’ai d’être de nouveau à Marrakech. Cet endroit mythique, tracé au 11è siècle  par les Almoravides. Marrakech reste à ce jour marqué par un fonds culturel remontant à l’empire du Ghana. Ceci explique peut-être pourquoi, dans mon subconscient, je suis toujours enthousiasmé à l’idée de revoir Marrakech. Aussi, voudrais-je saisir cette occasion pour exprimer toute ma gratitude au Royaume du Maroc pour la chaleur de l’accueil et l’hospitalité particulière dont le peuple et le gouvernment chérifien ont le secret. Dear friends, 2022 is an important year for Africa. The continent is hosting UNCCD COP15 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. This is an opportunity for Africa to exercise its leadership and address ecosystem restoration, especially land restoration, and mitigating the effects of drought and climate change.   The last time Africa hosted a UNCCD COP was 9 years ago, in 2013, in Windhoek, Namibia. I am grateful to Côte d’Ivoire for hosting our COP. This great African Nation is once again playing its leadership role, despite the complexity of hosting such an event during the ongoing pandemic and under the  very special circumstances currently prevailing in the world. Côte d’Ivoire is a renowned world leader in cocoa production and other commodities, including coffee, cashew nuts, rubber and cotton. The economy of the country, like many others in Africa, is largely based on its natural capital. So in a way, we will be celebrating the great achievements of the country. Mesdames, messieurs, Permettez-moi de vous dire un peu plus sur la COP. Une conférence que nous organisons sous le thème: « Terre. La vie. Héritage : de la rareté à la prospérité».   C’est un appel à l’action pour garantir que la terre qui est la bouée de sauvetage de cette planète, continue de profiter aux générations présentes et futures. La COP commence par un Sommet de Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement le 9 mai, suivi le lendemain, d’un segment ministériel. UnCaucus sur le genre sera tenu le 10 avec la Première Dame de Côte d’Ivoire à l’honneur. Deux grandes thématiques domineront les discussions du Segment de Haut niveau, à savoir la Sècheresse et la Restauration des terres dégradées  à grande échelle. Le monde réalise enfin que la sécheresse est un phénomène qui nous affecte tous. Riche ou pauvre, aucun pays n’est à l’abri de la sécheresse. Lorsqu’elle survient dans les pays moins nantis, la sécheresse aggrave la pauvreté et la famine. La sécheresse pèse lourdement sur les économies africaines et le PIB. Malheureusement, elle affecte de manière disproportionnée les plus vulnérables en particulier les pauvres, les femmes et les enfants. Cette année encore, nous avons tous été choqués par des images insoutenables provenant de Madagascar et de la Corne de l’Afrique. Nous avons perdu le sommeil au vu de ces images d’enfants faméliques, d’adultes en situation de malnutrition ou de girafes gisant sur des terres chaudes et craquelantes. Dans les conditions extrêmes, la sécheresse arrache aux populations les plus vulnérables le seul espoir qui leur restait : nourrir leurs enfants pour survivre à la famine. En effet, pour ceux dont la terre est la seule source de revenu, les épisodes de sécheresse sont synonymes de perte de production, de perte d’espoir, voire de perte de vie. A chaque fois que la sécheresse sévit, un implacable chapelet de malheurs s’abat sur ceux dont la terre est la seule source de revenu. A défaut de pluies, les paysans et les éleveurs voient le ciel leur tomber sur la tête.   En effet, répétons le pour une troisième fois, les petits producteurs n’ont que la terre comme source unique de revenu. Pour eux, la terre est leur Produit National Brut,  le seul refuge qui soit. Aussi, une terre dépouillée de sa couverture productrice et dont les sols sont dépecés, renvoie-t-elle à l’image, violente, d’un visage scarifié ou d’un corps mutilé. Alors que les petits producteurs africains sont parmi les plus vulnérables aux déficits pluviométriques, il convient de rappeler avec insistance, que la sécheresse n’est pas qu’un phénomène africain. Des épisodes de sécheresse surviennent sous toutes les latitudes, avec des conséquences humaines, écologiques et économiques plus ou moins graves. Cette année, le Maroc où nous sommes réunis aujourd’hui n’a guère été épargné. Pas plus pour les Etats-unis, l’Espagne, le Canada ou le Portugal. Chaque année, l’on égraine une liste de plus plus longue de pays affectés. La sécheresse semble porter plusieurs noms, reflet de la multitude de conséquences du désastre naturel: famine, feux de forêts, décroissance économique, troubles civils, instabilité politique, insécurité alimentaire etc. La sécheresse détruit les écosystèmes, déstructure les sociétés et jette des millions de personnes sur les routes de l’immigration forcée, accentuant l’exode rural. La sécheresse accentue les phénomènes de suicide. Que reste-t-il à faire à un éleveur ou un paysan qui perd jusqu’à sa dignité ? Reconnaissant la nature multiforme des conséquences de sécheresses, rendues de plus en plus fréquentes et violentes par les variations climatiques, la COP14 à New Delhi a donc mis en place un groupe de travail intergouvernemental et multi-disciplinaire sur la sécheresse. L’objectif est d’éclairer le débat lors de notre prochaine session. Le groupe de travail a soumis son rapport pour la COP 15, dans l’espoir d’aider à atténuer les risques et les impacts négatifs de la sécheresse. J’espère que le rapport du Groupe de Travail aidera les Parties à identifier les solutions idoines, adaptées à la situation des différentes catégories d’économies. Une panoplie de solutions semblent s’offrir aux Parties. Il serait judicieux d’en explorer les différents potentiels.    Les négociations sur la sécheresse représentent une des plus importantes négociations de l’histoire de la Convention. Et le Groupe Africain a un rôle très important à jouer. L’autre grand thème de notre COP sera la restauration à grande échelle. Le monde réalise enfin que la restauration des terres est une réponse multiforme à différents défis auxquels l’humanité fait face. A commencer par les sécheresses. Restaurer les terres, c’est les rendre à nouveau productives – pour satisfaire aux besoins de sécurité alimentaire, pour l’approvisionnement en eau ou la création d’emploi. Restaurer les terres à grande échelle, c’est aussi contribuer à l’atténuation des effets du changement climatique, c’est conserver la biodiversité et lutter contre la pauvreté. La terre est le PIB du pauvre ; c’est son compte bancaire. La restauration des terres à grande échelle est ainsi un instrument de paix, de prospérité et de stabilité pour les futures générations. Que l’Afrique s’engage avec autant de conviction sur des programmes régionaux de réhabilitation des terres à grande échelle est une source d’inspiration. Les initiatives en cours au Sahel (la Grande muraille verte), ou en développement en Afrique australe ou possiblement de l’Afrique orientale servent de modèles. D’autres régions d’Afrique suivront, comme le font déjà le Moyen Orient (Middle East Green Initiative), la Chine, l’Inde, le Pakistan, l’Union Européenne ou encore l’Amérique latine. L’Afrique doit poursuivre et renforcer ses investissements pour réhabiliter ses terres productives. Il s’agit d’une activité economiquement rentable. Le Continent a en effet perdu au moins 65% de ses terres arables au cours des 70 dernières années, alors que sa population a cru d’au moins 600% pendant la même période. Pour un continent dont l’économie dépend tant du secteur primaire, cette disproportion entre la disponibilité des terres arables et le nombre de nouvelles bouches à nourrir est inquiétante et mérite une attention particulière. Dear delegates, Let me share with you a piece of good news: land restoration is increasingly attracting financial resources, both from the private and the public sectors. The private sector has come to understand that bringing the land back to health is a profitable business. For the agro-business, but also for nature conservation, thanks to eco-tourism. The trends we see from the public sector for the Africa’s Great Green Wall, along with the G20 Initiative or the Middle East Initiative on Land Restoration are very encouraging. COP15 will of course also address many other inter-related issues, which you will be discussing over the next three days. These include gender, land tenure, migration, sand and dust storms. The Secretariat has prepared working documents which are accessible to Parties. I am sure my colleagues here in this room will provide you with more detailed presentations of how the Summit of Heads of States, the Ministerial sessions, the High Level Gender Caucus and many other events will be organised. Before I conclude, let me once again express my deep gratitude to the African Union and to the African Development Bank and to the African Forest Forum for their support, together with Morocco, in organising this important meeting. I do hope the meeting will help you coordinate better and consolidate your positions, ahead of the upcoming session of your Conference of the Parties. Abidjan will be hosting an African COP. This conference will be an important milestone in the life of your Convention. We are here to assist/support you achieve your ambitions.   .كلمة أخيرة لشكر المغرب مرة أخرى على جودة ضيافته وكرم ملكه وحكومته وشعبه   شكرا جزيلا