Excellencies, colleagues and friends,
My thanks to the Government of Mongolia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification for convening this important event, and for drawing attention to sand and dust storms.
Many of the nations gathered here today are facing serious challenges from sand and dust storms, which I need not elaborate on. But let me assure you that we at the UN are here to fully support you as you deal with this cross-cutting, transboundary challenge.
To tackle these storms, we must understand the causes of the increased frequency and intensity, and governments will need to take a leading role in tackling these issues.
This gathering is an important next step in our joint efforts as you seek to operationalize the Global Implementation Initiative for Sand and Dust Storms and set the stage for progress during the UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms.
Dealing with sand and dust storms at source, before they spread across borders and sectors, is one of the strongest interventions we have available to make the decade as success. Through a recent consultative process with members of the UN Coalition on Combating SDS and interested Member States, UNEP has identified the need to identify, map and mitigate SDS sources as a key step forward.
Many sources are linked to land degradation, often accelerated by over extraction of water, overgrazing, land use conversion and over exploitation, disturbance of topsoil, as well as climate change, all of which can lead to ecosystem decline and all too frequently sand and dust storms. Therefore, restoring and sustainably managing landscapes can reduce emissions at sand and dust storms at their origin, while generating wider benefits for biodiversity, livelihoods, climate resilience and human well-being. In addition, of course, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is essential to reduce climate change, a contributor to sand and dust storms as mentioned.
To give just one concrete example, UNEP recently supported tree planting and other measures in Galmudug, Somalia, which stabilized shifting sands, reduced wind erosion and protected the rangelands and pastures that local communities depend upon. By easing the environmental pressures behind resource scarcity, the work also lowered conflict risk and strengthened community resilience. This is a powerful dual impact.
Our joint task is to work together, within and across borders, to scale such individual wins. The Global Implementation Initiative for Sand and Dust Storms is of course an important platform for translating science into action and fostering collaboration. I am pleased that this event is focusing on defining an actionable agenda for this initiative, which we at UNEP strongly support.
To move forward faster, we need to make use of the network, partnerships and momentum that the Coalition offers. We need to be coherent in our actions. This coherence is already on display here this afternoon, with so many nations and partners represented at a high level. I am encouraged at this display of unity and ambition.
We at UNEP look forward to stronger collaboration and engagement as we all strive to make the UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms a true success.
