World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2024: Call to Action for Sustainable Land Management

As humanity faces the grave consequences of environmental degradation, it is crucial to recognize and address the severe impacts of growing population, pollution, and the resulting demands on our natural resources. The reduction of healthy land cover has led to frequent occurrences of droughts, land degradation, and desertification. In response, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed annually to raise awareness about these pressing issues and to galvanize collective efforts towards sustainable land management.

Date of Observance in 2024

Every year, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated on June 17. This year, the observance falls on a Monday.

Historical Background

The roots of this global observance trace back to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, where desertification, biodiversity loss, and climate change were identified as major challenges to sustainable development. Consequently, in 1994, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This legally binding international agreement aims to link environmental protection with development and sustainable land management. Furthermore, in 2007, the UN General Assembly declared the decade from 2010 to 2020 as the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification.

Significance of the 2024 Theme

The theme for World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2024 is "United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future." This theme underscores the urgent need for united efforts in sustainable land management. As the United Nations highlights, "Growing populations coupled with unsustainable production and consumption patterns fuel demand for natural resources, putting excessive pressure on land to the point of degradation. Desertification and drought are driving forced migration, putting tens of millions of people each year at risk of displacement." This statement emphasizes the critical nature of the issue, urging individuals and communities to take necessary actions to combat desertification and drought and to reverse the environmental damage already inflicted.