All publications and documents

Between the record-breaking global heat and extreme downpours, it’s hard to ignore that something unusual is going on with the weather in 2023. People have been quick to blame climate change – and they’re right, to a point: Human-caused global warming does play the biggest role. A recent study determined that the weekslong heat wave in Texas, the U.S. Southwest and Mexico that…

Women are essential to transforming Africa’s agrifood systems and attaining the continent’s job creation, growth and health agendas. Close to two-thirds of African women are employed in agrifood systems in roles ranging from farmers to agrodealers to educators to traders. Women also play a lead role in supporting the nutritional health and well-being of their families. Yet, women’s agency and…

Year-round water supplies for communities facing drought in Puntland, augmented by irrigation channels and erosion barriers, will help boost productivity, incomes and nutrition. Somalia is threatened by its worst drought in 40 years. In 2022 alone, there were 42,000 excess deaths and since 2021, at least 3.5 million livestock have been killed and an estimated 1.4 million people have been…

The present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/171 on combating sand and dust storms, provides details on developments within the United Nations system since the issuance of the previous report of the SecretaryGeneral on the subject (A/77/216) and covers the period from mid-2022 to mid-2023. The report highlights activities and initiatives undertaken by…

Juliet Grace Luwedde is a Uganda-based climate activist and the Global Focal Point for the UNCCD Youth Caucus on Land and Desertification. In an interview ahead of the GEF Assembly, she described the roots of her interest in women’s empowerment and land rights as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, food security, and ecosystem protection. Where did your interest in sustainable…

Better farming techniques across the world could lead to storage of 31 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide a year, data shows Fiona Harvey Environment editor Marginal improvements to agricultural soils around the world would store enough carbon to keep the world within 1.5C of global heating, new research suggests. Farming techniques that improve long-term fertility and…