The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance celebrated each year on 17 June.[1] Its purpose is to raise awareness of the presence of desertification and drought, highlighting methods of preventing desertification and recovering from drought. Each year's global celebration has a unique, novel emphasis that had not been developed previously.
| World Day to Combat Global warming and Drought | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also called | WDCDD |
| Observed by | UN Members |
| Celebrations | United Nations |
| Date | 17 June |
| Next time | 17 June 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
This day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/49/115 on January 30, 1995, after the day when United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is drafted.[2]
Desertification and the Sustainable Development Goals
editThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development declares that "we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations". Specifically, Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land states the resolve of the United Nations and the SDG signatory nations to halt and reverse land degradation.[3]
Annual themes
edit- 2024 - United for Land: Our Legacy. Our future
- 2022 – Rising up from drought together
- 2021 – Restoration, land and recovery. We build back better with healthy land
- 2020 – Food. Feed. Fibre – the links between consumption and land[4]
- 2019 – Let’s Grow the Future Together (Reflecting on 25 years of progress and envisaging to the next 25)[5]
- 2018 – Land has true value. Invest in it[6]
- 2017 – Link between land degradation and migration (in light of Syrian mass emigration following environmentally-caused failure of Syria's agricultural system) #2017WDCD[7]
- 2016 – Protect Earth. Restore Land. Engage People.[8]
- 2015 – Attainment of food security for all through sustainable food systems.[9][10] – "No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soil"
- 2009 – Conserving land and energy = Securing our common future
- 2008 – Combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture
- 2007 – Desertification and Climate Change - One Global Challenge
- 2006 – The Beauty of Deserts – The Challenge of Desertification
- 2005 – Women and Desertification
- 2004 – Social Dimensions of Desertification: Migration and Poverty
- 2003 – International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD)
- 2002 – Land Degradation
References
edit- ^ "UN Convention to Combat Desertification: World Day to Combat Desertification". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ "PDF of General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/115" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Martin. "Forests, desertification and biodiversity". United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June
- ^ "Celebrate #2019WDCD | UNCCD". www.unccd.int. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
- ^ "World Day to Combat Desertification - 17 June 2018". IUCN. 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
- ^ UNCCD's page for 2017 World Day to Combat Desertification - #2017WDCD
- ^ UNCCD's page for 2016 World Day to Combat Desertification - #2016WDCD
- ^ UN CCD Home /Theme Archived 2015-05-31 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22/05/2015.
- ^ UNESCO's page for 2017 World Day to Combat Desertification - #2017WDCD