The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating threat of land degradation worldwide, stating that an annual investment of £260 billion is essential to avert a global crisis. Currently, only £56 billion of this necessary funding has been mobilised, leaving a staggering shortfall that could exacerbate food insecurity, increase forced migration, and trigger conflicts affecting billions.
A Call for Financial Action
Yasmine Fouad, the executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and former Egyptian environment minister, highlighted the critical need for innovative financing solutions to bridge the “massive gap” in funding. In an exclusive interview, she emphasised that simply relying on public budgets will not suffice. “We need the financial sector, development banks, insurance systems, and private capital to treat healthy land as foundational infrastructure for our economies and societies,” Fouad stated.
According to the latest UNCCD assessment, around $355 billion (£261 billion) is required each year to address the pressing issues stemming from land degradation globally. However, only $77 billion is currently being mobilised annually. A significant portion of the funding—approximately 72%—comes from the countries most affected, while a mere 6% is attributed to private sector investments. As international aid budgets dwindle, the urgency to carve out mechanisms for attracting private finance grows even more pronounced.
The Threat of Land Degradation
Land degradation is characterised by the deterioration of land quality and productivity, resulting from factors such as soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing. Desertification, defined by the UNCCD as persistent land degradation in dry areas, poses a serious threat to agricultural viability, livestock, and overall food security.
Fouad cautioned, “The risks of inaction are no longer confined to environmental concerns. Land degradation and drought contribute significantly to food insecurity, supply chain disruptions, forced migration, rising inequality, and instability in vulnerable regions.” This interconnectedness means that no nation is immune to the consequences of land degradation, underscoring the necessity for proactive investment in land restoration as a means of fostering resilience, stability, and shared prosperity.
Recent data from the UNCCD reveals a troubling trend: in 2019, 15.4% of global land was classified as degraded, marking a 4% rise over four years. This alarming increase translates to over 100 million hectares of formerly productive land rendered unfit for use annually, affecting 1.3 billion people. The economic toll is staggering, with desertification and drought costing impacted nations approximately 2% of their GDP—equating to around $878 billion—each year.
Global Response and Future Initiatives
Fouad’s urgent appeal for immediate action resonates with the environment ministers of the G7 nations, who recently acknowledged desertification and drought as “systemic global challenges” and “security risk multipliers.” However, amid these challenges, there is hope. Fouad highlighted various ongoing initiatives, including watershed management projects in Ethiopia and Kenya, aimed at bolstering agricultural resilience. Another significant effort is the Great Green Wall initiative in the Sahel region of Africa, which aims to plant 100 million hectares of trees in desert-prone countries by 2030.
As the UNCCD prepares for its upcoming “Conference of Parties” (COP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August, generating funds to combat desertification will be a central theme. Despite growing scepticism about the effectiveness of such conferences, Fouad remains optimistic. “I see COPs as more important than ever, as they are crucial for bringing together countries from both the Global North and Global South,” she asserted. “The world depends on COPs to reach the consensus needed to tackle various global environmental challenges.”
Why it Matters
The stakes have never been higher. The degradation of land not only threatens food security but also fuelling conflicts and driving forced migration. With billions of lives at risk, the urgent mobilization of resources to combat this crisis is not just a matter of environmental stewardship; it is a call to safeguard global stability and prosperity. Investing in land restoration and sustainable agricultural practices is essential for building resilience against the cascading effects of climate change, making it imperative for governments, corporations, and financial institutions to act decisively.
