MongoliaUN Talks Highlight Drought Crisis
Representatives from nearly 200 countries met in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to discuss ways to combat desertification and drought, with up to 40% of the world’s land degraded. A decision on a global drought agreement was postponed until the next round of talks in Egypt in two years.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Representatives from nearly 200 countries wrapped up United Nations desertification talks in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, seeking ways to keep land productive as climate change heats the planet.
The talks, organised by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, highlighted the growing drought crisis, with droughts emerging in areas that were not considered highly vulnerable a decade ago, according to Yasmine Fouad, the convention’s executive secretary.
Yasmine Fouad said drought is becoming more frequent, more intense and more prolonged, and is often determined by what happens to land before the rain stops.
Healthy soils absorb and store water, helping crops, grasslands and natural ecosystems survive dry periods, while degraded soils shed water more quickly and lose productivity, making communities more vulnerable.
The connection between land and water is especially important for agriculture, with Joao Campari, global leader for food and agriculture at WWF International, saying that treating land and water as separate systems overlooks the basic conditions needed for food security.
The pressure on land is expected to grow as demand for food increases, with the world needing to produce 50% more food than it did in 2012 by 2050, according to UN reports.
Mongolia’s President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh attended the talks, which were held in Ulaanbaatar.
Key facts
- Up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded
- Droughts are becoming more frequent, more intense and more prolonged
- The world needs to produce 50% more food than it did in 2012 by 2050
- A decision on a global drought agreement was postponed until the next round of talks in Egypt in two years
Three perspectives
Neutral
The talks highlighted the need for sustainable land and water management to combat drought and desertification. The decision to postpone a global drought agreement will be revisited in two years. The international community will be watching the progress of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Positive
The talks brought together representatives from nearly 200 countries to discuss ways to combat desertification and drought, showing a commitment to addressing the issue. The emphasis on sustainable land and water management could lead to more effective solutions.
Negative
The failure to agree on a global drought agreement is a setback in the fight against desertification and drought. The postponement of the decision until the next round of talks in two years may delay necessary action.
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