The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the escalating crisis of land degradation, indicating that £260 billion is necessary each year to combat the increasing threat of desertification and its dire consequences on global food security and social stability. Currently, only £56 billion has been mobilised, leaving a staggering funding gap that poses risks of forced migration and conflict affecting billions worldwide.
Funding Shortfall Threatens Global Stability
Yasmine Fouad, the executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and former Egyptian environment minister, emphasised the urgent need for innovative financing solutions to address this alarming shortfall. In an exclusive interview, she stated, “There exists a significant divide between the financial resources presently available and those required to tackle land degradation. We cannot rely solely on public budgets; it is essential that the financial sector, development banks, and private investors recognise the importance of healthy land as fundamental infrastructure for our economies and societies.”
According to the latest UNCCD assessment, tackling land degradation demands an annual investment of approximately $355 billion (£261 billion), yet only $77 billion is currently being mobilised. The situation is particularly critical in nations most affected by land degradation, where around 72 per cent of funding is generated domestically, with a mere 6 per cent coming from private investments. As aid budgets dwindle globally, the necessity for robust systems to attract private finance has become increasingly apparent.
The Consequences of Land Degradation
Land degradation encompasses the decline in land quality and productivity due to various factors including soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing. Desertification, as defined by the UNCCD, is a chronic form of land degradation occurring in arid areas, resulting in diminished agricultural productivity and the spread of desert-like conditions, representing a grave threat to farming and livestock.
Fouad warned, “The repercussions of inaction are no longer confined to environmental concerns. Land degradation and drought are already fuelling food insecurity, disrupting supply chains, and contributing to forced migration and rising inequality. No nation can remain insulated from these effects in our interconnected world. Thus, investing in land restoration is not merely an act of charity; it is a preventative measure aimed at enhancing resilience, stability, and shared prosperity.”
The UNCCD’s recent data reveals a troubling trend: as of 2019, 15.4 per cent of the world’s land was classified as degraded, marking a 4 per cent increase over four years. This degradation translates to over 100 million hectares of once-productive land lost annually, impacting approximately 1.3 billion individuals. The economic toll of desertification and land degradation equates to around 2 per cent of the GDP of affected nations, amounting to an estimated $878 billion each year.
International Response and Future Solutions
Fouad’s alarming message has received support from G7 environment ministers, who recently underscored the seriousness of desertification and drought as “systemic global challenges” that exacerbate security risks.
However, amid this bleak landscape, there is hope. Fouad highlighted that if sufficient funding is secured, effective solutions are available. “We are currently supporting watershed management initiatives in Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as programmes encouraging farmers in the Nile Delta to cultivate crops that can adapt to increasingly saline soils,” she noted.
Another significant initiative backed by the UNCCD is the ambitious Great Green Wall project, which aims to plant 100 million hectares of trees across desert-prone regions in Africa by 2030. Additionally, 74 low- to middle-income nations vulnerable to drought have submitted plans to manage their drought issues, which now await the necessary funding for implementation.
Looking ahead, the UNCCD is set to convene a “Conference of Parties” in August in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where generating finance for combating desertification will be a focal point. While skepticism surrounds the ability of such conferences to effect change, Fouad remains optimistic about the potential for Cop17 to facilitate meaningful progress. “Cops have never been more crucial. They are vital for uniting countries from both the Global North and Global South in pursuit of consensus on pressing global environmental challenges,” she asserted.
Why it Matters
The implications of land degradation extend far beyond environmental concerns; they threaten global stability, food security, and socio-economic equality. With billions of lives at stake, addressing this funding gap is not only a matter of ecological urgency but also a strategic imperative for maintaining peace and prosperity in an increasingly interconnected world. The international community must act decisively to mobilise resources and implement solutions that safeguard our planet’s health and the welfare of its inhabitants.
