China Hosts its First Global
Environmental Summit on
Desertification
Ordos,
06/06/17 - Zhang Jianlong, Minister of State
Forestry Administration, China, this morning
opened the first ever United Nations conference
on sustainable development hosted in China. The
thirteenth session of the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), is
taking place from 6-16 September, in Ordos,
Inner Mongolia.
The 196 country Parties attending the
session are expected to agree on a 12-year
Strategy to contain runaway land degradation
that is threatening global food and water
supply.
Ministers are expected to announce
their targets for land restoration and agree on
measures to address the related emerging threats
of forced migration, sand and dust storms, and
on actions to strengthen resilience to
droughts.
Close to 80 ministers are expected to
attend the Conference during the high-level
segment, when most of the emerging issues will
be addressed and country commitments of the
targets will be
announced.
Speech: Monique Barbut, Executive
Secretary, UNCCD
Press Conference: Monique Barbut, Executive
Secretary,
UNCCD
About
UNCCD
The
United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally
binding international agreement on land issues.
The Convention promotes good land stewardship.
Its 196 Parties aim, through partnerships, to
implement the Convention and achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals. The end goal is
to protect our land, from over-use and drought,
so it can continue to provide us all with food,
water and energy. By sustainably managing land
and striving to achieve land degradation
neutrality, now and in the future, we will
reduce the impact of climate change, avoid
conflict over natural resources and help
communities to thrive.
