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The UNCCD COP 14 Local and Regional Governments Day, co-organized by the UNCCD Secretariat, ICLEI South Asia and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Government of India, took place on 7 September 2019. The event focused on the theme “Land degradation and cities: The essential role of local and regional governments” and was attended by over 100 participants, from 13 counties including mayors, deputy mayors, representatives of UN organizations, governments and civil society. The all-day session explored the relationship between urbanization and land degradation and aimed at better understanding of linkages between urbanization and land degradation, along with the role of local governments in establishing good practices for sustainable land management. Mayors shared their experiences and confirmed that the adverse effects of climate change such as desertification, droughts and floods are putting additional pressures on limited resources and are impacting the provision of basic infrastructure services for the local population, such as water, food and secure shelter. The acute effects of desertification and drought on populations living in informal settlements are bringing climate action and adaptation to the forefront of cities' concerns.     The multidimensional role of land was pointed out and the prioritization of land use, diversity of employment opportunities, particularly in peri-urban areas were emphasized. Capacity building and creating opportunities for rural livelihoods were recommended as measures against rural – urban migration.  he Executive Secretary of UNCCD Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw pointed out that cites are not just part of the problem, but can become a part of the solution. He called for a new common development paradigm for urban and rural areas, using land as a foundation for positive change. The Local and Regional Government Day is followed by a High-Level Segment on ‘Rural and Urban Communities – Failing or Flourishing Together” scheduled for 9 September 2019. Photo (left to right): Eduardo Mansur, Durector, Land and Water Division, FAO; Morgane Chiocchia, Associate Programme Officer, UNCCD; Dr. Divya Datt, Programme Management officer, UN Environment India; Dr. Babu, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi; Ms. Mariam Traore Chazalnoel, Thematic Specialist on Migration, Environment and Climate Change, IOM.

At a High-Level Breakfast meeting held in New Delhi, India, partners of the African-led Great Green Wall Initiative agreed to develop a visionary roadmap, a decade after its launch, with bold targets to restore 100 million hectares of land and create 10 million green jobs by 2030 across the Sahel.

Two major pieces of research reveal the clear and present danger biodiversity loss and climate change pose to the health, security and well-being of humanity. 

6 September, New Delhi – The High-Level Segment of the14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, opens on Monday, 9 September 2019, in New Delhi, India. Accredited journalists intending to participate must collect their badges from the conference venue tomorrow, Saturday 7 September, between 12 noon and 08:00pm and be seated in the plenary hall by 09:59am on Monday, 9 September. Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi will open the high-level segment. Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, President of COP14 and Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in India, Mr. Prakash Javadekar and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, along with other dignitaries, will attend the opening ceremony taking place from 10:30AM to 11:30AM in the Plenary Hall at the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida.    After the opening ceremony, a press conference with COP President Javadekar and Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed will take place at 02:30-03:00pm in the Press Room.  All bona fide press and media representative are welcome to participate at both events, but must first get approval to participate, and then pick up their badges before 08:00pm tomorrow evening Saturday, 7 September from the conference venue. Apply via this link. A separate advisory regarding travel and security arrangements will be issued tomorrow. Detailed information about the Conference is available from the online Press Kit. Transportation from New Delhi City center A shuttle service for journalists will run from the National Media centre (Raisina Road, Windsor Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India) to the conference venue on  9 September. All other days, the shuttle service will run from the Ministry of Environment (Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi 110 003) to the Conference venue. Accredited media may use these services for free. Background documents and information on COP14 are available online.   Social media for the Conference can be found Twitter, Facebook and Instagram   #UNCCDCOP14 @unccd For further information, please contact: wwischnewski@unccd.int asrivatsava@unccd.int abhishek@prprofessionals.in  

The day was marked by the launch of a new international coalition to strengthen coordinated action on SDS, which have damaging transboundary impacts on human health, the environment and key economic sectors. Highlighting the need to address SDS in both source and destination countries, Argentina proposed that the UNCCD direct its resources towards strengthening synergistic approaches to drought management, one of the main causes of SDS.

The Global Mechanism of the UNCCD has just released a report on the findings and recommendations from the technical data and policy analyses of its flagship Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme. The report, “Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting: initial findings and lessons learned,” informs countries and their partners of the LDN Target Setting Programme’s key contributions towards the achievement of LDN and Sustainable Development Goal 15.