UN declares 2025–2034 Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms

Crossing borders silently and impacting millions globally, sand and dust storms are the 'underappreciated' extreme weather events, yet they profoundly affect the environment and the lives of hundreds of millions worldwide, across all continents.

According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), every year, an estimated 2 billion tonnes of sand and dust, an amount equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza, enter the atmosphere.

In recognition of these challenges, the General Assembly proclaimed 2025-2034 as the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. Introduced by Uganda on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, the initiative underscores international concern over sand and dust storms and promotes proactive measures through awareness and action.

In the resolution (A/78/L.88), UN Member States emphasized that sand and dust storms currently threaten the realization of 11 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The announcement comes on the eve of the annual observance of the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), 12 July, which aims to raise global awareness of the growing health and environmental challenges posed by SDS.

“Sand and dust storms need to be addressed in a holistic manner. The UNCCD is working to address the negative impacts of sand and dust storms through several initiatives. We help countries set up monitoring and early warning systems and promote international partnerships to tackle the root causes,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of UNCCD.

Sand dust storms cost economies hundreds of millions of dollars each year through damage to communications, energy, and transport infrastructure, increased healthcare costs, damage to farmland, and disruption to schooling, employment, and transport.

Sand and dust storms have historically played a critical role in Earth's biogeochemical cycles, but human activities now contribute significantly to their increase. According to the SDS Compendium produced by UNCCD, at least 25 per cent of global dust emissions originate from human activities like unsustainable land management and water use.

On the occasion of SDS Day, UNCCD and FAO are launching the “Policy guideline on the integration of sand and dust storm management into key policy areas”, helping governments and policymakers better adapt to SDS. The guidelines, aimed at policy makers globally, emphasize the need to integrate SDS management into national and regional strategies, enhancing resilience and mitigating the socioeconomic impacts of these increasingly frequent and intense events.

“The Policy Guideline will support countries to develop and implement sand and dust storms-related initiatives, improve land use and management, enhance food security, and build resilience to climate change,” said Lifeng Li, Director of the Land and Water Division at FAO.

Sand and dust storms will be on the agenda of the upcoming UNCCD COP16 to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2-13 December 2024.

At UNCCD COP14, the United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms was launched to promote and coordinate a collaborative UN-system response this phenomenon. Currently, 19 Members of the Coalition include UN agencies and non-UN agencies. Within the framework of this coalition the UNCCD leads the efforts on the SDS Toolbox, providing practical solutions to manage and mitigate SDS.

The 2024 SDS Day will be celebrated with numerous events around the world. FAO and UNCCD will jointly organize a webinar, highlighting the launch of the Policy Guidelines.