Commonwealth countries back actions to combat climate change through land use at breakthrough meeting

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 across the globe and over half of the global population.

Alongside the United Nations General Assembly meetings, ministers, high commissioners, officials and experts from across the Commonwealth met for a high-level event organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). 

With only months before 2021 – a crucial year marked by a series of global summits focused on the environment – the discussions paved the path for sustainable land management to feature as a top priority for enhanced climate action and living in harmony with nature. 

Delegates agreed to explore how Commonwealth member states can act jointly on the Rio Conventions, and forge a positive, action-based agenda around land use in the run-up to the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, CBD COP15 (May 2021), the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (June 2021), the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26 (November 2021) and UNCCD COP15 in late 2021. 

At their summit next June, Commonwealth leaders are expected to adopt a ‘Living Lands Charter’, including a programme of action on climate change impacts on land.  

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: 

“Without urgent action on how we use and steward our lands, we cannot hope to achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change. Given the impact of COVID-19 our countries have a narrow window of opportunity to establish a ‘new normal’ in the way we interact with our natural environment. Part of this must means a deliberate and systematic focus on a ‘green recovery’ that incorporates climate-smart practices in the way we grow our crops, raise livestock, and use our land resources.” 

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw stated: 

“Youth make up 60% of the Commonwealth population. This is 1 out of 3 youth in the world. Policies that could enable them to jumpstart green land-based jobs such as agriculture, ecological restoration or in the supply chain hold promise for both building back better and living in harmony with nature. In addition, the proposed ‘Living Lands charter’ could drive momentum towards a fair, inclusive and sustainable future.” 

The land sector generates about a quarter of net carbon emissions caused by humans, due to activities such as logging, raising methane-producing livestock, and unsustainable soil management. Not only do these contribute to climate change, but in turn, the impacts of climate change such as extreme weather, drought and floods further degrade the soil, forests and wildlife.
By 2050, between 50 and 700 million people will have migrated as a result of the combination of land degradation, climate change impacts and diminished crop yields.

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) Patricia Espinosa recalled the origins of the three Rio Conventions on biodiversity, climate change and desertification, including the idea that these three issues “naturally coincided”. She urged governments not to look at these issues in isolation, adding:

“Never has it been more important that we align our efforts even more strongly than before. We need your help to help people how the issues under the three Conventions intersect and how it impacts them…. We must, must, must work together. But it only works if your policies and programs reflect the importance of these linked issues.” 

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) Elizabeth Mrema said: 

“Nature-based solutions could offer immediate and cost-effective long-term benefits to mitigate climate change, to address increasing threats to biodiversity and to restore degraded land. Nature-based solutions have the potential to not only reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and sequester carbon, they can also build resilience to climate change, as well as provide water filtration, flood buffering, and disaster risk reduction while improving soil health and biodiversity.”

Outcomes of the event will lay the groundwork for concrete contributions to the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, as well as global talks at the UN conferences on climate change and biodiversity. 

Notes to Editors

Watch the full statements on Facebook video stream:  

For interviews with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, contact Josephine Latu-Sanft, j.latu-sanft [at] commonwealth.int (jdotlatu-sanftatcommonwealthdotint )or +44 7587657269 (WhatsApp)

For interviews with the UN Executive Secretaries, contact: Wagaki Wishcnewski, wwischnewski [at] unccd.int (wwischnewskiatunccddotint) or +49 (0) 173 268 7593

About the Commonwealth Secretariat

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.4 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is under the age of 30. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. www.thecommonwealth.org   

About UNCCD

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 Parties set up robust systems to manage land degradation and drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on a sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. Land also plays a key role in the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, securing rural livelihoods and creating green jobs, supporting community resilience and maintaining the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services.