UN COP14 to combat desertification concludes in Delhi

The 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Delhi, and was attended by 197 parties

September 9, 2019

The Convention saw the participation of delegates from 197 parties including global leaders, scientists, NGOs, gender-based organisations, and youth groups

In conclusion, 190 countries adopted the Delhi Declaration that provides an action plan for nations for land-based solutions for climate action and biodiversity

The Declaration invited development partners, international financial mechanisms, private sector players and other stakeholders to boost support for the convention

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to environmental protection and restore 26 million hectares of ‘degraded’ area

Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Shri Prakash Javadekar and Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ibrahim Thiaw jointly inaugurated the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UNCCD in Delhi. 

The Convention saw the participation of delegates from 197 parties comprising of scientists and representatives of national and local governments, global business leaders, NGOs, gender-based organisations, youth groups, journalists, and faith and community groups. On conclusion of the conference, 190 countries signed to adopt the Delhi Declaration. 

The Delhi declaration acknowledged that the world needs to consider land-based solutions for climate action and biodiversity to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. It provides an action plan for nations to save more land. The parties to the declaration also invited development partners, international financial mechanisms, private sector players and other stakeholders to boost investments and technical support for the implementation of the convention.

At the conference, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to addressing all the concerns of the three Rio Conventions- on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification He reiterated that India would be happy to propose initiatives for greater South-South cooperation for jointly addressing issues of environmental protection. 

There are numerous initiatives that India will be undertaking to deliver on its promises. 

India is set to increase the total ‘degraded’ area under restoration from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares between now and 2030. The focus will be on restoring their land productivity and ecosystem services. India also proposed to set up a global technical support institute for UNCCD member nations for capacity building for the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Program. This will be a platform to come up with land restoration strategies through cost-effective satellite and space technology.

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