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Statement by

Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw

Executive Secretary United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

SG report on UNCCD and the UN Decade on Deserts and the Fight against Desertification

75th Session of the

United Nations General Assembly

Second Committee

Agenda item 19(e)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa

New York, 12 October 2020

Postal Address: PO Box 260129, 53153 Bonn, Germany UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, D-53113 Bonn, Germany Mr. Chairman, Bureau members,

Allow me to congratulate you for being elected to the helm of the Second Committee.

We certainly live in turbulent times.

Our collective fragilities and inequalities are being cruelly exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We count on this crucial General Assembly Committee to steer us effectively through the choppy waters towards calmer seas.

The pandemic struck us as work on implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals was beginning to deliver measurable impact.

We cannot let that progress be blown further off course.

A clear path to chart now will be to align recovery from the pandemic with sustainable development. That is the full delivery and achievement of the SDGs.

You, as the General Assembly, had deemed that achieving land degradation neutrality would help accelerate the achievement of other SDGs.

You had also, in resolution 74/220, recognized that land-based solutions are part of nature- based solutions – to protecting ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods of those affected by desertification, land degradation and drought.

So, I am delighted that the Committee decided to focus its general debate around the need to build back better from the pandemic.

And to build forwards towards a more equitable global economy, inclusive societies. And a truly sustainable recovery.

Many observations are being made with regards to how we should manage the Post-Covid era. Let me, at the outset, highlight two:

1. Humanity needs to redefine its relationships with nature. The current pandemic is not an accident. Accepting such narrative means we accept there will be a relapse. The pandemic occurred because we broke our contract with nature. We need a new reset. We need to develop a new set of relationships with nature. A new social contract with nature. 2. Our ambition of Building Back Better is plausible. But only if we learn our lessons. We can create millions of green jobs; lift millions out of poverty; rebuild solid and stable economies. But we need a serious rethink. Business as usual will not take us to a safe destination. Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, UNCCD can serve as a platform to help build forwards.

I would highlight three elements where UNCCD implementation has a clear comparative advantage.

First, protecting and restoring natural ecosystems is crucial to avoiding the emergence of novel zoonotic diseases.

By harnessing the potential of good land management, we can protect ecosystems, reduce habitat destruction and therefore help limit the future risks to our health. With the same interventions, UNCCD Parties are also reducing the risk of other disasters – such as sand and dust storms or droughts.

Second, effective implementation of the UNCCD can strengthen the resilience of the natural ecosystems we all rely on to provide for our basic needs.

Healthy land plays an indispensable role in the supply of food and water. But competition for access to healthy land and healthy soils continues to grow.

Integrated land use planning – that is land degradation neutrality in the context of UNCCD - helps navigate these trade-offs. It can take account of evolving urban-rural dynamics and can encourage local and circular production and consumption.

Implemented at scale the conservation, sustainable management and restoration of the land will secure the supply of ecosystem services – and their long-term resilience.

Third, UNCCD implementation can reduce the impact of the COVID-19 economic crisis on the most vulnerable people.

For many communities in the developing world, land is the only safety net during crises and times of stress. It is the main source of livelihood for more than a billion people.

Protecting and restoring the productivity of land resources will help the economic recovery and long-term stability of those communities. It offers a unique vehicle to provide citizens with jobs, food security and enhanced resilience to future shocks.

It is too obvious maybe? But to build for the future, we should build on strong foundations.

Land restoration can underpin the future economy. It can be a formidable machine to create millions of decent green jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Mr. Chairman,

Bureau members, distinguished delegates,

Allow me to introduce the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 74/220 and his report on the implementation of the United Nations Decade on Deserts and the fight against desertification (2010-2020), as requested in resolution 69/221.

The first report, entitled Implementation of the United Nations Environment Conventions, is contained in part II of document A/75/256.

The report outlines key decisions taken by the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties, which took place in New Delhi, India in September 2019.

It also informs the General Assembly about the global celebration of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in June 2020. In the context of COVID-19, the event underscored our reliance on land for well-being and health.

Built around the theme “Food. Feed. Fibre”, the event clearly highlighted how our own consumption patterns are the leading drivers of desertification and land degradation.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea for hosting the celebration on its state-of-the-art virtual platforms. Held entirely online for the first time, this year outreach for World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reached over 67 million people in over 100 countries.

The Secretary-General’s report also stresses developments on land restoration, tenure, gender and drought. It provides information on flagship initiatives such as the Initiative on Sustainability, Stability and Security, the Peace Forest Initiative and of course the Great Green Wall.

In its last section, the report offers the General Assembly possible actions to consider.

Specifically, the report suggests that the General Assembly may wish to encourage a paradigm shift in the way nature – land in particular - is managed.

For our efforts to tackle a range of global policy challenges.

Ranging from fighting poverty to delivering food security – indeed to delivering security of all types.

From women’s empowerment to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

Land is a powerful ally.

Let me now turn to the Secretary-General’s report on the United Decade on deserts and the fight against desertification, prepared pursuant to resolution 69/221 and contained in document A/75/190.

The Decade saw remarkable growth in scientific knowledge about the drivers, processes and impacts of land degradation, desertification and drought.

While in terms of visibility: the challenge of desertification especially in the drylands; the impact of droughts; the importance of dry forests and of gender mainstreaming for implementation are at their highest ever levels.

Stunning progress was also achieved in developing solutions to these challenges.

Countries are now increasingly driving towards the implementation of this knowledge and the roll-out of these solutions.

For example, 124 countries have now committed to set voluntary national land degradation neutrality targets. This could lead, among other benefits, to over 400 million hectares of land being rehabilitated and restored.

I wish to stress that these achievements are down to the tireless work of the Decade’s Inter- Agency Task Force.

I acknowledge, with great appreciation, the task force members. Both UN and non-UN organisations.

Mr. Chairman,

The importance of healthy land for a sustainable future has been laid bare.

With a spirit of a shared vision and strengthened cooperation, we are fully committed to supporting the coming UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

It will build upon the progress made during the Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification.

It will help us build back better. And build for the future. With land – with nature – as our solid foundation.

Thank you