Media advisories
Closing DayOn Friday, 28 August, delegates gather as the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification concludes with the adoption of final decisions and reports, bringing the two-week conference to a close.KEY EVENTS FOR MEDIACOP17 Closing Press ConferenceWhen: 17:00Where: Press Conference RoomSpeakers:Yasmine Fouad (UNCCD Executive Secretary)Battsetseg Batmunkh (COP17 President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia)Journalists are invited to attend the final press conference, where leadership present the main outcomes and reflections on COP17, outlining key decisions adopted by the Parties at the close of the session.Side EventsSide events throughout the day will cover rangelands and pastoralism, finance, drought resilience, land tenure, healthy soils and the land-water nexus.Journalists are encouraged to consult the official COP17 programme for the full schedule and latest updates : https://www.unccd.int/cop17/programmeMEDIA RESOURCESCOP17 programmeUNCCD COP17 websiteHost country websiteUNCCD Action Dome websiteUN WebTV – Live broadcast of key plenary sessions with live interpretation in all six UN languagesUNCCD COP17 Visual Assets and Branding ResourcesEarth Negotiations Bulletin – daily coverage, photographs and analysisFor media enquiries and interview requests: UNCCD Press Office: press@unccd.int
UNCCD COP17: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | 17–28 August 2026: Media accreditation is open
Accreditation for media is now available for the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The conference will take place from 17 to 28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Journalists are invited to apply for accreditation via Indico. Please note that Indico is the only platform through which media accreditation and authorization to cover COP17 can be obtained. The UNCCD secretariat does not process accreditation requests submitted via email or post. Any materials sent outside the ORS will not be processed.Please ensure that all documents comply with the specified requirements and that applicant details are consistent throughout the application process. Kindly note that participation is subject to approval and that all registrations must be approved.Please monitor your email regularly for any additional documentation or information requests that may be required to confirm your application. Once your registration has been confirmed, you will receive a Registration Acknowledgement Letter. Information on accreditation requirements, visas, visual materials and access to the visa portal is available here: Media InformationShould you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us via your online registration account or at press@unccd.int.Further details will be made available on the official COP17 website in due course.
Final Press Release – CRIC23 A closing press release will be issued summarizing the outcomes of CRIC23. It will be published on the UNCCD website and shared with all accredited media. NO CLOSING PRESS CONFERENCE There will be no closing press conference. Journalists may contact UNCCD Communications for interviews or clarifications. Comunicado Final – CRIC23 Se emitirá un comunicado de prensa final que resumirá los resultados de CRIC23. Será publicado en el sitio web de la CNULD y compartido con todos los medios acreditados. SIN CONFERENCIA DE PRENSA DE CLAUSURA No habrá conferencia de prensa de clausura. Los periodistas pueden contactar a la Oficina de Comunicación de la CNULD para entrevistas o aclaraciones.
CRIC23 Examines Land Tenure and Launches the Economics of Rangelands ReportThe fourth day of CRIC23 turns to the policy foundations that determine whether land restoration succeeds, with discussions focused on strengthening land tenure systems, improving enabling conditions for sustainable land management, and reviewing new economic findings that will shape global thinking on dryland resilience ahead of COP17.Key eventEconomics of Rangelands – Key Findings Ahead of COP17Please note: Key findings and early messages from the upcoming Economics of Rangelands report will be made available to the media, highlighting the economic value of rangelands and the costs of their ongoing degradation. There will be no formal press briefing, but the following experts will be available for media interviews upon request:Mark Schauer, Project Lead (Co-Lead), Sector Programme Resilient Rural Areas, GIZDr. Barron Orr, UNCCD Chief ScientistAriuntuya Dorjsuren, Director General, International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, MongoliaEnrique Michaud, Co-Chair, IYRP Global AllianceFor interview arrangements, please contact: press@unccd.intHost country event of notePanama Side Event: “The Nature Pledge Journey”When: 13:15–14:45Where: CARIBE 4Led by the Government of Panama, this session will present the country’s progress under the Panama Nature Pledge, including work to achieve LDN by 2030, restore priority hotspots, and integrate land, climate and biodiversity policies.This event may interest journalists following Panama’s national leadership and regional positioning during CRIC23.Additional Themes Covered Today How land tenure security supports land restoration and climate resilienceNational experiences in achieving LDN targetsEconomic and policy considerations emerging from dryland and rangelands assessmentsRegional cooperation, lessons and priorities on land governanceSide events organised by partners take place throughout the day.Full schedule: https://www.unccd.int/cric23/side-events
CRIC23 Highlights Gender Equality, Indigenous Leadership, and the Post-2030 Strategic FrameworkToday’s CRIC23 discussions focus on gender equality, Indigenous women’s leadership, and the Interim Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework (IWG-FSF).Key event 10:00–13:00 | Field Visit to the Panama Canal (Miraflores Visitors Center)Journalists are invited to a field visit organized by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) at the Miraflores Visitors Center. The visit will offer insights into how the ACP integrates sustainability and watershed protection into its long-term strategy to safeguard the Canal’s water resources.The programme includes:Welcome and transfer to Salón Río GrandePresentation: Sustainable Development Strategy of the Panama CanalRaúl Martínez, Manager for Socio-Environmental Sustainability (ACP)Testimony: Experience of coffee producer Jim Mariscal with ACP-supported projectsQ&A with ACP representatives and community partnersGuided visit to key viewpoints and facilities of the Panama CanalTransport departs at 10:00 from the Panama Convention Center.Return to hotel expected at 13:00.Other CRIC23 highlights — Gender Caucus sessionsTwo sessions of the UNCCD Gender Caucus will take place on 3 December at the Panama Convention Centre. Journalists with CRIC23 accreditation may attend.10:00–11:30 | Gender Caucus — Session 1Leadership and worldviews of Indigenous women for sustainable land managementThis session brings together Indigenous women leaders to discuss land governance, ancestral knowledge systems, and current land-related challenges.11:30–13:00 | Gender Caucus — Session 2Gender dimensions of sand and dust stormsThis session explores how sand and dust storms affect men and women differently, adaptation strategies, and data gaps that inform future policy guidance.Launch eventStrengthening the Capacities of Latin American and Caribbean Countries for Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Restoration within the Framework of the UNCCDWhen: 3 December 2025Time: 19:00 – 21:30Where: Hotel Aloft Panama, Vía Israel y Calle 76, San Francisco, Panama CityOrganized by: CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean -& UNCCDThis launch event presents a new CAF–UNCCD collaboration to strengthen the capacities of Latin American and Caribbean countries in sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration. As land degradation and drought intensify vulnerabilities across the region, the initiative supports countries in advancing effective land and water management while helping mobilize the financing needed to meet UNCCD objectives.
UNCCD CRIC23 Opens in Panama: Countries Review Global Progress on Land Restoration and Drought Resilience Media representatives are invited to the opening day of the 23rd session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC23), held from 1–5 December 2025 at the Panama Convention Center. CRIC23 brings together representatives from 196 countries and the European Union to assess global progress on land restoration, drought resilience, land tenure, reporting systems, capacity-building and gender equality, and to inform the post-2030 strategic framework ahead of the 17th UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP17), taking place in Mongolia from 17 to 26 August 2026. Panama will also highlight its Panama Nature Pledge, already introduced in national processes, which outlines the country’s commitment to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030, restoring priority hotspots and strengthening drought resilience across the Dry Corridor. KEY EVENTS Opening Plenary When: 10:00–13:00 Where: Plenary Hall The opening plenary will outline the goals of CRIC23, including the review of reporting improvements, progress on thematic frameworks (land tenure, gender, sand and dust storms), and a presentation by Panama on its Panama Nature Pledge, which has already been introduced in national processes. Photographers: assemble at 09:15 at the Media Center. Opening Press Conference When: 12:00–13:00 Where: Press Conference Room Speakers: Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment of Panama Yasmine Fouad, UNCCD Executive Secretary Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs. KSABatmunkh Dondovdorj, Special Advisor to the Minister and Chairman of upcoming COP17 Presidency National Office The press conference will present the key expectations for CRIC23, highlight Panama’s leadership — including a reference to its Nature Pledge — and provide reflections from the UNCCD COP16 and COP17 Presidencies. Media Accreditation Accredited journalists may access all open press events. Accreditation can be completed at the venue’s Media Registration Desk during opening hours. Side events organized by partners take place throughout the day. Full schedule: https://www.unccd.int/cric23/side-events
Leaders to call for global land restoration as basis of peace On 17 June, leaders, civil society organizations, and Indigenous representatives will convene in Bogotá, Colombia to advocate for global land restoration as a foundation of food security, sustainable development, and lasting peace. As the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the growing demand for nutritious food and clean water means that restoring degraded land is no longer optional—it is an existential imperative. This year’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day, hosted by Colombia and led by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) under the theme ‘Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities will spotlight the undeniable economic, social, and environmental benefits of land restoration for people and the planet. Every US$1 used to restore land yields a return of US$7 to US$30 through enhanced ecosystem services and livelihoods, making for an investment case that the world cannot afford to overlook. Nations need to invest US$1 billion per day by 2030 to bring some 1.5 billion hectares of land back to health in support of human security and dignity, according to UNCCD. Journalists, policymakers, and stakeholders are invited to attend and cover this high-level event. What: Global Observance event of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 When: 18:30 -19:30 hours (Bogota time), 17 June 2025 Where: Cra. 10 #26-21, Bogotá, Colombia Key Speakers: Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of the Republic of Colombia Martha Carvajalino, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia. Lena Estrada, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia Andrea Meza, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNCCD Ayman Ghulam, representative of the UNCCD COP16 Presidency Pallab Chakma, representative of the Global Land Forum Notes How to cover the global observance event: Register here to attend the event in Bogotá; and access the press kit with audiovisual materials on the event. Follow the livestreaming link to the opening and high-level segments on the UNCCD Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@THEUNCCD For media enquiries and interviews requests, please contact: UNCCD Press Office press@unccd.int For more information: Website of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 About the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day in Bogota The global observance is part of the Global Land Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, the Center for Research and Popular Education/Peace Program (CINEP) as lead for a National Organizing Committee of civil society actors, the European Union and the International Land Coalition. About UNCCD 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. About Desertification and Drought Day Officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 (A/RES/49/115), Desertification and Drought Day, marked annually on 17 June, is a unique occasion to highlight practical solutions to combating desertification, land degradation and drought. The theme of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 is “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities,” underscoring multiple benefits linked to land restoration. The global observance of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 is hosted by Colombia. The observance was held as part of the Global Land Forum, organized by the Government of Colombia in partnership with the International Land Coalition. Countries and communities around the world organize activities to mark the Day. Previous global Desertification and Drought Day celebrations took place in Germany (2024), USA (2023), Spain (2022), Costa Rica (2021), Republic of Korea (2020), Türkiye (2019), Ecuador (2018), Burkina Faso (2017) and China (2016).
OAV Uchun Ma’lumot Konvensiyaning (CRIC21) bajarilishini koʻrib chiqish boʻyicha 21-qoʻmitaning yigʻilishi. 2023-yil 13-17-noyabr, Samarqand shahri Bonn/Samarkand, 09/11/2023. 13-17-noyabr kunlari Samarqand shahrida Birlashgan Millatlar Tashkilotining Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi konvensiyasining (UNCCD) bajarilishini koʻrib chiqish qoʻmitasini 21-sessiyasi (CRIC-21) bo’ib o’tadi. CRIC21 BMT Konvensiyaning strategik maqsadlariga erishish yo'lidagi natijalarni muhokama qilish uchun 196 ta mamlakatdan va Evropa Ittifoqi, fuqarolik jamiyati va ilmiy doiralardan 500 ga yaqin vakillarni birlashtiradi. Ushbu yig’ilish Birlashgan Millatlar Tashkilotining Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasi tashkil etilganidan beri eng muhim yig‘ilishlardan biri bo’lib Markaziy Osiyoda ilk bora o‘tkazilmoqda. Ushbu tadbir juda muhim pallaga to'g'ri keladi, chunki BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasi tomonidan e'lon qilingan so'nggi ma'lumotlarga ko’ra, dunyo bo’ylab har yili 100 million gektarga yaqin sog'lom va unumdor yerlar yo'qolmoqda. Agar hozirgi tendensiyalar davom etsa, 2030-yilgacha butun dunyo bo'ylab yer degradatsiyasining neytralligiga erishish uchun 1,5 milliard gektar yerni tiklash kerak bo'ladi. Biroq, qo'shimcha tanazzulni to'xtatish va mavjud majburiyatlarni tezlashtirishning o'zi betaraflik maqsadidan oshib ketishi mumkin. BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasi Ijrochi kotibi Ibraxim Tiav o’z fikrlarini bildirdi: “Butun dunyoda kuzatilgan qurg‘oqchilik, o‘rmon yong‘inlari va jazirama to‘lqinlar, chuqurlashib borayotgan va o’zaro bog’liq bo’lgan iqlim va tabiat inqirozining alomatlaridir va yerlarimiz ushbu inqirozning markazida turibdi. 2015-yildan buyon 4 million kvadrat kilometrga yaqin sog‘lom va unumdor yer yo‘qoldi, bu taxminan Markaziy Osiyo maydoniga teng degani. Biz 2030-yilga borib yerlarni yanada tanazzulga uchrashini to‘xtatishimiz va kamida 1 milliard gektar maydonni qayta tiklashimiz kerak, va 2030-yilga kelib yerlarga bo’gliq bo’lgan global maqsadlarga erishishimiz kerak.” CRIC21 yig’ilishi “Silk Road Samarkand” kongress markazida boʻlib oʻtadi. Tomonlar 2018-2030 yillarga mo‘ljallangan BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasini strategik va amalga oshirish dasturiga muvofiq yer degradatsiyasining oldini olish va to‘xtatish bo‘yicha global maqsadlarga erishish bo‘yicha erishilgan natijalarni ko‘rib chiqish va tavsiyalar berish imkoniyatiga ega bo‘ladilar. CRIC21 dasturining diqqatga sazovor va muhim tadbirlari ro’yxati: 13 noyabr kuni soat 10:00 dan 13:00 gacha CRIC raisi, BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasi Ijrochi kotibi va O'zbekiston hukumati vakilining kirish so'zlari bilan ochiladigan yalpi majlis. 14 va 16-noyabr kunlari soat 13:00 dan 15:00 gacha Gender Kaucus xalqaro ekspertlarni yig'ilishi bo’lib o’tadi, va unda ayollarning yer huquqlari va ushbu huquqlarni dunyo bo’ylab yerni qayta tiklash va qurg'oqchilikka chidamlilikni oshirish muvaffaqiyatining zaruriy shartlariga doir muhokamalar bo’lib o’tadi. 15-noyabr kuni 10:00 dan-13:00 gacha O'zbekiston hukumati tomonidan qum va chang bo'ronlari bo'yicha yuqori darajadagi siyosiy tadbir bo'lib o'tadi. Oxirgi yillarda O‘zbekistonda ham, uning atrofidagi mamlakatlarda ham qum va chang bo‘ronlari soni ham, shiddati ham sezilarli darajada oshdi. CRIC21 da ilk marotaba 30 dan ortiq turli xil amaliy tadbirlar tashkil etiladi. Ushbu tadbirlar ishtirokchilar va akkreditatsiyadan o’tgan kuzatuvchi tashkilotlarga Konvensiya maqsadlari bilan bog'liq turli masalalar bo'yicha axborot va tajriba almashish uchun imkoniyat yaratadi. CRIC21 davomida mahalliy vaqt bilan soat 13:00 dan -15:00 gacha matbuot brifinglari o'tkaziladi, jumladan: 13-noyabr: Markaziy Osiyoga e'tibor qaratiladi: cho'llanish, yerlarning degradatsiyasi va qurg'oqchilik bo'yicha mintaqaviy tendensiyalar. BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasini bosh olimi doktor Barron Orr va fan, texnologiya va innovatsiyalar bo'limining dastur rahbari Olga Andreyeva (tasdiqlanmoqda) xonim ishtirok etadilar. 14 noyabr: Uning yeri. Uning huquqlari: BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasi vakillari va mintaqaviy ekspertlar (tasdiqlanmoqda) bilan ayollarning yer huquqlarini va ularning yerni tiklash va qurg'oqchilikka chidamlilik sa'y-harakatlarini rivojlantirishga qaratilgan global va mintaqaviy sa'y-harakatlari. 15-noyabr: Qum va chang bo'ronlari: BMTning Cho‘llanishga qarshi kurash to‘g‘risidagi Konvensiyasi va mintaqaviy ekspertlar ishtirok etadilar. Ko’payib borayotgan qum va chang bo'ronlari haqidagi so'nggi ma'lumotlar, shuningdek,O'zbekiston hukumati tomonidan o'tkazilgan yuqori darajadagi tadbir natijalari muhokama qilinadi 17-noyabr: Yakunlovchi matbuot anjumani: BMTning Choʻllanish va qurgʻoqchilikka qarshi kurashish Konvensiyasi ijrochi kotibi Ibraxim Tiav, CRIC raisi Biljana Kilibarda xonim hamda Ekologiya, atrof-muhitni muhofaza qilish va iqlim oʻzgarishi vaziri Aziz Abduhakimov qatnashadilar va o’tqazilgan CRIC21ning asosiy natijalari haqida ma’lumotlar beriladi. OAV uchun eslatmalar Akkreditatsiyadan o'tgan ommaviy axborot vositalari vakillari CRIC21 va tegishli tadbirlarda qatnashish va tadbirlani yoritish uchun taklif etiladilar. Jurnalistlar yerlarni tiklash va qurg'oqchilikka chidamlilik loyihalari bilan bevosita amaliy tashriflar orqali tanishishlari mumkin. Ushbu amaliy tashriflar CRIC21dan oldin va keyin darhol amalga oshiriladi. CRIC2ning kunlik muhim voqealari IISD Earth Negotiations Byulletini tomonidan taqdim etiladi va ushbu havola orqali mavjud bo’ladi: https://enb.iisd.org/unccd-committee-review-implementationconvention-cric21 OAV uchun amaliy tashriflar javdali quyidagi havolada mavjud: https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/2023-10/Side%20Events%20CRIC21.pdf CRIC21 va BMTning Choʻllanish va qurgʻoqchilikka qarshi kurashish konvensiyasiga doir visual ma’lumotlar bilan ushbu havola orqali tanishisn mumkin: https://trello.com/b/zq0kxtkK/unccd-cric21-samarkand-uzb-2023 Ommaviy axborot vositalari vakillari uchun onlayn roʻyxatdan oʻtish quyidagi havola orqali amalga oshiriladi: www.unccd.int/cric-21-online-registration. Ro'yxatdan o'tish uchun quyidagi hujjatlarni taqdim eting: Yaqinda olingan bitta pasport o'lchamidagi fotosurat; Guvohnoma (muddati o'tib ketmagan bo’lishi zarur); Pasportingiz (xorijiy jurnalistlar uchun) yoki milliy guvohnomangiz (mahalliy OAV uchun) nusxasi (rasm va imzo sahifalari); Tadbirlarda ishtirok etish uchun homiylik qiluvchi OAVning rasmiy xati. Erkin jurnalistlar (frilancerlar) uchun qaysi OAV uchun konferensiyani yoritishni tayinlaganligi haqida xat talab qilinadi; To'g'ri va to’liq to'ldirilgan akkreditatsiya Onlayn roʻyxatdan oʻtgan jurnalistlar oʻzlarining akkreditatsiyalarini “Ipak yoʻli Samarqand” kongress markazida amaldagi guvohnoma va shaxsni tasdiqlovchi hujjat koʻrsatgan holda olishlari mumkin boʻladi. O‘zbekistonga viza olish va tartibga soluvchi qoidalar bo‘yicha qo‘shimcha ma’lumot olish uchun quyidagi havolaga murojaat qiling: https://e-visa.gov.uz/main. Ommaviy axborot vositalarini akkreditatsiya qilish yoki tadbirni yoritish bo'yicha savollar uchun press@unccd.int manziliga murojaat qiling. Konferensiya o'tkaziladigan joyda matbuot va ommaviy axborot vositalari uchun maxsus ish maydoni mavjud bo'ladi. Konvensiya va CRIC 21 bo'yicha qo'shimcha ma'lumotlar va matbuot yangiliklari BMTning Choʻllanish va qurgʻoqchilikka qarshi kurashish Konvensiyasi veb-saytida mavjud bo'ladi: https://www.unccd.int/cric21. BMTning Choʻllanish va qurgʻoqchilikka qarshi kurashish Konvensiyasi haqida qisqacha ma’lumot BMTning Choʻllanish va qurgʻoqchilikka qarshi kurashish Konvensiyasi (UNCCD) yer uchun muhim bo’lgan o’ziga hos global yondashuv va ovozdir. Biz hukumatlar, olimlar, siyosatchilar, xususiy sektor va hamjamiyatlarni insoniyat va sayyora barqarorligi uchun dunyo yerlarini qayta tiklash va boshqarish uchun umumiy yondashuv va global harakatlar atrofida birlashtiramiz. BMTning Choʻllanish va qurgʻoqchilikka qarshi kurashish Konvensiyasi 197 nafar ishtirokchi tomonidan imzolangan xalqaro shartnomadan ko'ra ko'proq, bu yerning degradatsiyasining bugungi oqibatlarini yumshatish va barcha insonlar uchun adolatli va inklyuziv tarzda oziq-ovqat, suv, boshpana va iqtisodiy imkoniyatlarni ta'minlash uchun kelajak yerlardan foydalanishni rivojlantirishga qaratilgan ko'p tomonlama majburiyatdir.
MEDIA ADVISORY Rising up from drought together is Spain’s call for Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June Bonn/Madrid, 13 June 2022 - Spain, one of the European countries most vulnerable to drought and water shortages linked to climate change, is hosting this year’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June. The event titled, “Rising up from drought together,” will take place at the Auditorio Museo Nacional Reina Sofia in Madrid. Drought is the theme for the Day this year. Media are invited to participate at the event organized by the Government of Spain and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), where renown scientists, issue experts, youth representatives and high-level policymakers from Spain and around the world will speak about: the role of science based on the drought risks identified for different climate change scenarios success stories of drought mitigation and adaptation in Spain and other countries. viable drought policies and their components Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, Alain-Richard Donwahi, President of UNCCD COP15, Côte d'Ivoire, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and Patricia Kombo, UNCCD Land Hero from Kenya are among the notable speakers (see full list below). Droughts are increasing in frequency and severity up 29 percent since 2000 and affecting an estimated 55 million people every year, according to the latest Drought in Numbers report from UNCCD. By 2050, drylands may cover between 50 to 60 percent of all land, with an estimated three-quarters of the world’s population living in these areas under conditions of severe water scarcity. The Horn of Africa, for example, is in its fourth year of drought. A similar drought in Southern Africa five years ago put 20 million people on the verge of starvation. This year Chile marked a record-breaking 13th year of drought. A prolonged drought in the United States that started in 2000 is the country’s driest period in over 1200 years. In the lead up to the 2022 Desertification and Drought Day, UNCCD launched Droughtland, a public awareness campaign featuring a fictional drought-stricken nation, to showcase solutions and rally global action to boost drought resilience. Detailed information, which includes the programme, media resources and background documents to facilitate coverage of the event, is provided below. Venue Auditorio Museo Nacional Reina Sofia, Rondo de Atocha, Madrid, Spain. Webcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/theUNCCD (in the floor language) Streaming through Twitter and Facebook: @unccd Time Friday, 17 June 2022 11:00-14:00 hrs (CEST) /09:00-12:00 (GMT/UTC) Invited speakers Mr. Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain (Prime Minister) Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Alain-Richard Donwahi, President of UNCCD COP15, Côte d'Ivoire Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Mr Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Ms. Teresa Ribera, Third Vice-President of the government and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Spain Ms. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Ms. Skumsa Ntshanga, Ag. Deputy Director-General, Biodiversity and Conservation Branch, Ministry of Forests, Fisheries and Environment, South Africa Ms. Patricia Kombo, founder of the PaTree Initiative and UNCCD Land Hero Ms. María Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho, General Director of Biodiversity, Forestry and Desertification, Spain Mr. Pilar Paneque, leader of the Spanish Citizen Observatory of Drought and Professor of Human Geography, Pablo de Olavide University of Seville, Spain Ms. Attia Rafla, Director for Soil Resources. Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of Tunisia. Ms. Elena López Gunn, Chief Executive Officer, ICATALIST. Associate professor at IE Business School and collaborator of the Water Observatory, the Botín Foundation and the Basque Center for Climate Change, Spain Mr. Mark Svoboda, Director of the National Center for Drought Monitoring in the United States Background Drought in Numbers, released on 11 May at the fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP15) calls for making a full global commitment to drought preparedness and resilience in all global regions a top priority. The report was issued just days before The State of the Global Climate 2021 report released May 2022 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to the report, the past seven years have been the warmest seven years on record, and drought affected many parts of the world, including the Horn of Africa, Canada, the western United States, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Türkiye. Drought resilience was a top agenda item at UNCCD COP15. Countries agreed to boost drought resilience, and identified some of the key actions. They will identify the areas that could turn into drylands, improve national policies, including on early warning, monitoring and assessment, learn and share knowledge, build partnerships and coordinate action, and mobilize drought finance. In addition, they will set up an Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought for 2022-2024 to look into possible options, including global policy instruments and regional policy frameworks, to support a shift from reactive to proactive drought management. The Working Group reports released earlier this year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as part of the Sixth Assessment Report warn that we have up to 2030 to take actions to get us on track to staying within a temperature rise of no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Warming above that level would have catastrophic impacts on both people and the planet. Notes to Editors International journalists travelling to Spain to cover the event need be registered, and should email: bzn-prensa@miteco.es and copy wwischnewski@unccd.int. A copy of your valid press card and passport will be required to pick your access card. Download various materials here (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1z1FnAIFZ44rMX93xO8tZ-iFmiFDzsM6j?usp=sharing): b-roll on the drought in Eastern Africa (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pE-gBN0M-hTS4dP3V9T19eePLBm7jzW2?usp=sharing). Credit UNCCD. human interest stories gathered in March 2022 in Turkana County, Kenya (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XswUXoxcn7RT0ppN586KmC3QIdzD9Gb0/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112078920839857133524&rtpof=true&sd=true). Credit UNCCD. Images of drought impacts in Northern Kenya (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RYzm0BS8Jf91KUupvlkmCRttPH19eClv?usp=sharing). Credit UNCCD. Videos and assets from the Droughtland campaign (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15IOrKLNq5ibD0SmFPiL23xN7j08iiM_R?usp=sharing) Credit UNCCD Images of the event in Spain will be uploaded here (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YteZpHTbAY3HGgJw6xycavlTxjEqobHN?usp=sharing). Social Media Twitter: @TourDroughtland Instagram: @TourDroughtland Hashtags: #Nodroughtland #UNited4Land Download social media assets, including banners, infographics, cartoons and postcards: https://trello.com/b/0gIgBV68/desertification-and-drought-day-2022 Learn more about the campaign: droughtland.com For information about Desertification and Drought Day visit: /events/desertification-drought-day/2022 For information about Desertification and Drought Day events in Spain and around the world, contact Xenya Scanlon, Chief of Communications, UNCCD: xscanlon@unccd.int For media related inquires: On site contact: Alejandro Gomez, argomez@miteco.es Virtually: Wagaki Wischnewski, wwischnewski@unccd.int, +49 173 268 7593 (m) About UNCCD 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.