The United Nations has issued a stark warning, revealing that a staggering £260 billion is required each year to tackle the escalating crisis of land degradation worldwide, yet only £56 billion has been mobilised thus far. This alarming funding shortfall threatens to exacerbate food insecurity, spark conflicts, and contribute to forced migration, impacting billions globally.
A Severe Funding Gap
Yasmine Fouad, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) executive secretary and former Egyptian environment minister, has underscored the urgent need for innovative financing solutions to bridge this massive gap in funding. In an exclusive interview, she stated, “There is a substantial discrepancy between available financial resources and what is necessary to combat land degradation. Public budgets alone cannot close this gap.”
The UNCCD’s latest assessment indicates that approximately $355 billion (£261 billion) is essential annually to address land degradation, with only $77 billion currently being mobilised. The majority of this funding—about 72 per cent—is generated by the nations most affected, while a mere 6 per cent originates from private investments. As global aid budgets dwindle, the need for private sector involvement becomes increasingly critical.
Understanding Land Degradation
Land degradation refers to the decline in the quality and productivity of land caused by various factors, including soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing. The UNCCD defines desertification as the persistent degradation of land in arid regions, leading to diminished productivity and the encroachment of desert-like conditions. This phenomenon poses a significant threat to agriculture and livestock, jeopardising food security.
Fouad emphasised the broader implications of inaction, stating, “The risks associated with land degradation extend beyond environmental concerns. Food insecurity, supply chain disruptions, forced migration, and escalating inequality are all interconnected issues that stem from this crisis.”
The Cost of Inaction
The UNCCD reports that as of 2019, 15.4 per cent of the world’s land was classified as degraded—a worrying increase of 4 per cent over the previous four years. This degradation translates to a loss of approximately 100 million hectares of productive land annually, affecting 1.3 billion people around the globe. The economic toll is staggering; desertification and land degradation cost countries the equivalent of 2 per cent of their GDP each year—an estimated $878 billion—impacting essential resources such as food availability and groundwater replenishment.
The urgency of addressing this issue has resonated with global leaders, including the G7 environment ministers, who recently described desertification and drought as critical global challenges and multipliers of security risks.
Pathways to Solutions
Despite the daunting funding gap, there is hope. Fouad highlighted existing initiatives that demonstrate the potential for impactful solutions. “We are supporting watershed management projects in Ethiopia and Kenya, along with programmes that encourage farmers in the Nile Delta to cultivate salt-tolerant crops,” she shared. Additionally, the Great Green Wall initiative aims to restore 100 million hectares of trees across desert-prone areas in Africa by 2030.
As the UNCCD prepares for its upcoming Conference of Parties (COP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, discussions will centre on mobilising funds to combat desertification. While scepticism about the effectiveness of such conferences has grown, Fouad remains optimistic about their potential for fostering international collaboration. “COPS are essential for uniting countries from the global North and South to reach a consensus on solving environmental challenges,” she asserted.
Why it Matters
The implications of failing to address land degradation extend far beyond environmental degradation; they threaten global stability, food security, and the livelihoods of billions of people. The UN’s call for increased funding is not merely a financial plea; it is a critical investment in the resilience and prosperity of communities worldwide. As the clock ticks, the world must act decisively to safeguard our land and, in turn, our future.