SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION SECRETARIAT DE LA CONVENTION SUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA DESERTIFICATION

Statement

by

Mr. Luc Gnacadja Executive Secretary Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

On the occasion of

the Opening of the International Conference on Combating Desertification

Beijing, China 22nd January 2008

(Check against delivery)

Postal address: P.O. Box 260129, D-53153 Bonn, Office location: UN Campus - Langer Eugen, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10, 53113 Bonn, Germany UNCCD Tel. (Switchboard): +49 (0)228 815 2800 Direct: +49 (0)228 815 2802 Fax: +49 (0)228 815 2898/99 E-mail (General): [email protected] E-mail (Direct): [email protected] Web site: www.unccd.int

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Your Excellency, Vice Prime Minister Hui Liangyu, Mr. Jia Zhibang (Minister of the State Forestry Administration); Mr. Sha Zukang (USG, UNDESA), Excellencies, (representatives of the State Forestry Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce) Honourable participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Beijing International Conference on Combating Desertification is called to be a significant event in our fight against land degradation and drought. First of all being organised at the eve of the Chinese New Year, a moment where people assess the past and make good resolutions & commitments for the future, I dare to say that the odds are with us. The aim for the future, as agreed upon by all the 192 Parties to the UNCCD during their 9th Conference last September in Madrid, “is to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification and land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental ”. And I am particularly happy that this Conference is taking place in a country that has much to show in

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terms of success stories in addressing desertification and land degradation, and I am grateful unto the People and the Government of China for pushing the desertification agenda forward. The moment is indeed opportune as we have embarked on the road leading to the 16th and 17th sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development. We must demonstrate that when the required leadership is provided through partnership, it is possible in the dry lands, to improve the living conditions of affected populations, to recover the productivity of affected ecosystems, and to generate global benefits through effective implementation of the UNCCD. We must lead the international community to the required paradigm shift in global and national policy making since there are nowadays scientific evidences that desertification and land degradation are of global scope, and not just local or regional issues; that combating them is also possible and even cost effective, to adapt to climate change, mitigate its effects and strengthen of affected countries. The Secretary-General of the UN in his message to this gathering, just rightly pointed out that “The UNCCD offers a platform for adaptation, mitigation and resilience”. The challenge of meeting the basic needs of populations through high sustained economic growth and development has meant that there is increasing competition for / and pressures on limited natural

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resources. It is about achieving poverty reduction and growth objectives in a manner that ensures a rational use of resources so as to avoid jeopardizing future generations’ potentials. At the same time, climate change has added a new dimension since this challenge now needs to be addressed in a scenario of increasing natural disasters, including risks of droughts, desertification, land degradation and ecosystem change. A recent study conducted by the United Nations University noted that: “Desertification is one of the most pressing global environment challenges of our time, threatening to reverse the gains of sustainable development that we have seen emerge in many parts of the world. It is a process that can inherently destabilize societies by deepening poverty and creating environmental refugees who can often add stress to areas that may not yet be degraded.” Desertification is, thus, part of a worldwide chain of cause and effect and its impact is felt well beyond the frontiers of the directly affected countries. The financial and human life losses caused by desertification and drought in the past few decades have -by far- exceeded many other natural disasters. Statistics show that one-third of the world’s population today is affected by desertification and drought. If nothing is done, the living standards of at least one third of humanity will grow unbearably worse, with a global impact in terms of enhanced risks of conflicts, forced migrations and food insecurity. The fight against

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desertification, land degradation and drought, therefore needs to be regarded as one of the most pressing environmental and development challenges before the international community. As the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), I welcome the opportunity to collectively position desertification issues high on the global agenda and to work together to find long-term sustainable solutions. Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen, Combating desertification and drought requires a complex engineering, that involves a number of different disciplines, such as national strategic planning (including allocation of financial & human resources, poverty eradication programmes), scientific and technological support, legislative and institutional framework, education and training programmes. Cooperation and support from the entire international community is absolutely essential for this endeavour. To foster our fight, secure our successes and improve our future actions, the UNCCD Secretariat in the context the new Strategy, is committed to facilitate a global alliance of the willing, starting with other relevant UN Agencies. The coming 16th and the 17th sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development will be so

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timely, as they will thematically focus on desertification, and I welcome the leadership provided by DESA in coordinating the preparation process Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen, Let me conclude my remark by reiterating my sincere gratitude to the Government of China and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, for organizing this International Conference on Combating Desertification. This conference will certainly provide an excellent occasion for all delegates to learn more from the experience of China, and exchange ideas on how we could strengthen through effective partnership efforts to combat desertification worldwide. I wish the Conference all the success, and I thank you for your kind attention.