As the world grapples with escalating land degradation, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has issued a stark warning: an additional £200 billion annually is necessary to avert a crisis that threatens to turn fertile regions into arid wastelands. Currently, only £56 billion is being mobilised, leaving a critical funding gap that could exacerbate food insecurity, force migration, and trigger conflict across vulnerable regions.
A Dire Financial Shortfall
Yasmine Fouad, the executive secretary of UNCCD and former Egyptian environment minister, highlighted the urgent need for innovative financing solutions to address the alarming gap in resources dedicated to combating land degradation. In an exclusive interview, she stated, “Today, there is a massive gap between the finance available and the finance required, but closing that gap cannot rely on public budgets alone.”
The UNCCD’s recent assessment underscores the severity of the situation: approximately £261 billion is required each year to effectively tackle land degradation, yet only £77 billion is currently mobilised. Alarmingly, a mere six per cent of this funding comes from private sector investment, with the majority sourced from countries most at risk and a small portion from international aid.
Understanding Land Degradation and Desertification
Land degradation, broadly defined, encompasses the decline in land quality and productivity due to various factors such as soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing. Desertification is a specific form of land degradation that occurs in dryland regions, resulting in significant losses in productivity and the encroachment of desert-like conditions.
Ms Fouad outlined the far-reaching implications of inaction: “The risks of inaction are no longer environmental risks alone. Land degradation and drought are already contributing to food insecurity, supply chain disruptions, forced migration, rising inequality, and instability in vulnerable regions.”
The UNCCD reports that as of 2019, 15.4 per cent of global land was classified as degraded, an increase of four per cent in just four years. This translates to over 100 million hectares of once-productive land being lost annually, affecting the livelihoods of approximately 1.3 billion people and costing nations about two per cent of their GDP each year—or roughly $878 billion—due to diminished agricultural productivity and resource depletion.
Global Consensus on the Crisis
The urgency of addressing desertification and land degradation has been echoed by the environment ministers of the G7 nations, who recently declared these issues as “systemic global challenges” and “security risk multipliers” in a communiqué released ahead of their forthcoming summit.
Fortunately, solutions exist, according to Ms Fouad. “We are supporting initiatives like watershed management projects in Ethiopia and Kenya, and programmes that encourage farmers in the Nile Delta to cultivate crops that can thrive in increasingly saline soils.” Additionally, the ambitious Great Green Wall project aims to restore 100 million hectares of land across the Sahel region of Africa by 2030, showcasing a tangible path forward if adequate funding can be secured.
The Path Forward
Looking ahead, the UNCCD is poised to convene a Conference of Parties (COP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, this August, with a key focus on generating financial resources to combat desertification. While skepticism exists around the efficacy of such global gatherings, Ms Fouad remains optimistic about their potential to foster collaborative solutions. “I see COPs as more important than ever, as they are critical to bringing together countries from both the Global North and Global South,” she stated.
The upcoming conference presents a vital opportunity to galvanise international efforts and secure the necessary funding to combat land degradation.
Why it Matters
The consequences of failing to address land degradation are profound, affecting not only agricultural productivity but also global stability. As food insecurity rises and environmental crises deepen, the impacts will resonate far beyond the regions immediately affected. Investing in land restoration is not merely an act of charity; it is an essential strategy for fostering resilience, stability, and equitable prosperity for all. The call for substantial financial commitment is more than a plea; it is a necessary step toward ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.