In this corner of the UNCCD, I will occasionally share my thoughts and highlight significant developments of interest to our readers and stakeholders. As with most international organizations, COVID-19 impacted our work. But I am convinced that we are moving in the right direction and that now is…
Statement by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw Arabic | Chinese | French | Russian | Spanish Joseph Biden Jr., President of the United States, issued an Executive Order yesterday outlining the bold steps his administration will take to tackle the climate crisis at home and throughout…
Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification Ibrahim Thiaw welcomes the announcement that the Government of Canada is set to invest up to 55 million Canadian dollars in the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund. The Fund supports private sector projects in developing countries that use sustainable land management techniques…
The ambitious Great Green Wall for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (GGW) has received at least 14.236 billion United States Dollars in new funding. The funding will fast track efforts to restore degrading land, save biological diversity as well as create green jobs and build resilience of the Sahelian people. Emmanuel Macron, President of France…
The Climate Ambition Summit of this month marks the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. World leaders meeting online are being asked to deliver stronger, more ambitious commitments that will spark action to halt the unfolding climate crisis.
Co-Chairs, Council members, Fellow colleagues Heads of the Conventions’ secretariats, Ladies and Gentlemen: First, allow me to express my gratitude to Dr Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, for his kind invitation. I wish him great success in his new role as CEO of the Global Environmental Facility. We are…
Your Excellency Barbara CREECY, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa and Chairperson of AMCEN, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for bringing us together today to address an urgent threat to humanity. The COVID-19 is more than a health crisis. It is a socio…
Nominations for the 2021 Land for Life Award of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened today. The submission of nominees will close after two months, on 28 January 2021.
The Award recognizes initiatives to halt, reduce and/or reverse land degradation that have had a positive impact on people and their land by…
Statement of UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw on the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats The world’s 20 most powerful economies have launched an initiative to protect land. The Leaders’ Declaration issued Sunday, 22 November 2020…
By UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw The German Advisory Council on Global Change’s recent report, Rethinking Land in the Anthropocene: from Separation to Integration, makes it abundantly clear that we need a fundamental change in how we manage the land to limit climate change, reverse…
Madame la Première ministre du Togo, Chers panélistes, Chers participants, La question de savoir comment créer de la richesse pour les jeunes à partir de la terre peut paraître surprenante. Prenons le cas de l’alimentation. La terre nourrit 7 milliards d’êtres humains. Aussi, si vous n’avez consommé…
By UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw for devex.com This year, the world marked the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in the midst of global calamity and uncertainty of an unprecedented scale. Yet we were also reminded that throughout history, great crises give rise to extraordinary…
By UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw for Thompson Reuters Foundation News COVID 19 has devastated communities in many regions of the world, including Africa. Leaders face two stark choices for the future: reverting to the unbridled self-interest that drove states, or breaking boldly with the…
Plants, animals and humans – all forms of life on Earth depend on healthy soil. Soil is the basis of all terrestrial ecosystems, supporting our food and water security while playing an important part in reducing the impacts of climate change, yet its status and its biodiversity are often overlooked…
In many parts of the world, autumn is the time to gather the harvest and count our blessings. This year’s trials and tribulations have taught us that while we can count on blessings bestowed by other humans to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, we are wholly dependent on blessings bestowed by nature to…
The soil on which we live, from which we feed ourselves and where we base our entire existence is one of humanity’s most precious assets that we cannot afford to lose. To satisfy our needs, we ought to recognize the interconnectidness of land with other natural resources. We should also recognize…
Opening remarks by UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw On the occasion of the Virtual meeting of the COP 14 Bureau Wednesday, 30 September 2020 Dear Mr. President, Dear Bureau members, It is a pleasure for me to welcome you once again for a virtual meeting of our Bureau. Few months have…
The humanitarian effects of environmental degradation, peace, and security.
This debate took place on Wednesday, September 17, 2020 by videoconference, and was chaired by the Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad, H.E. Kalla Ankourao.
Action around land use to slow climate change and biodiversity loss gets vital boost from Commonwealth and United Nations partners
A virtual gathering has galvanized political backing amongst Commonwealth countries to tackle the key challenge of land degradation linked to climate change and biodiversity loss, which is impacting ecosystems…
High-level open debate of the Security Council on the theme “Maintenance of international peace and security: humanitarian effects of environmental degradation and peace and security” took place on 17 September 2020. PRESS RELEASE COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE View the recorded event on UN Web TV Below is…
