- UN Alert: One million sqkm lost annually to human-driven sandstorms.
- These activities could result in global economic damage, food supply impact, migration, navigation issues and security risks.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) warns that human activities cause the loss of nearly 1 million square kilometres of productive land yearly to sand and dust storms. Two billion tons of sand and dust enter the atmosphere annually, wreaking havoc in Asia and Africa and causing global economic damage. The report, released in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, attributes a quarter of these storms to human actions like over-mining and overgrazing.
Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD executive secretary, says the consequences extend beyond immediate environmental impact, affecting vulnerable countries’ food supplies, driving migration, hindering navigation, and posing security risks. The UNCCD calls for improved land management, early warning systems, and increased resilience. Funding is a significant challenge, with only $15 billion allocated from 2016 to 2019 across 126 countries.
Thiaw emphasises the need for new incentives and public funding to encourage responsible private-sector land use. China is lauded for successfully combating desertification through long-term land restoration and reforestation. However, vulnerabilities persist, notably from sand blown in from degraded land in Mongolia. As COP28 approaches, Thiaw stresses the vital role of sustained land restoration in the global battle against climate change since land use changes are identified as a significant contributor to emissions.