UN Convention to Combat Desertification – UNCCD
The 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found. Parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions—along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—and was called for in Agenda 21, the programme of action adopted at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or Earth Summit).
Events
Showing 31 - 40 of 51 results
UNCCD COP 5
Progress was made in a number of areas, including the establishment of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of the Convention, the identification of modalities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Committee on Science and Technology, and the enhancement of the UNCCD’s financial base following strong support for a proposal by the Global Environment Facility to designate land degradation as another focal area for funding.
UNCCD COP 4
Many left UNCCD COP 4 contemplating the missed opportunities, noting time lost to procedural obstacles that hindered progress on substantial issues relating to the review of implementation, a loss of institutional memory, a void in leadership, and apparent disinterest in the UNCCD among some developed countries.
UNCCD COP 3
Many participants came to Recife expecting to discuss and review UNCCD implementation, based on the impressive number of national reports submitted to COP 3 by African country Parties. Instead, delegates found themselves focused on questions related to the structure of the Convention, primarily the role of the Secretariat and the procedures and mechanisms to review implementation in the future.
UNCCD COP 2
Delegates approved arrangements for the institutional linkage between the Convention and the UN Secretariat and the headquarters agreement with the Government of Germany, adjustments to its budget, and the outstanding rules of procedure concerning bureau members, though they retained bracketed language regarding majority voting absent consensus.
UNCCD COP 1
The COP 1 and CST 1 agendas contained primarily organizational matters and most delegates, while pleased with the two-week session, looked forward to COP2 to delve into more substantive issues related to combatting desertification.