12-day Conference of Parties (COP14) to UNCCD begins

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The 12-day 14^th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) got underway on September 2, 2019, at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

Briefing mediapersons, Union Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Minister  Prakash Javadekar, in presence of Executive Secretary, UNCCD, Ibrahim Thiaw; MoS, MoEF&CC, Babul Supriyo and other dignitaries, highlighted how mass awareness and public participation is the need of the hour. “Be it climate change or desertification, human action have a role in disturbing the balance of nature. Now people have realised and therefore we are saying that if human action have caused some damage, positive human action will undo that and make a better world for future generations.”

Pointing to an unprecedented global campaign to save productive land, Javadekar said 122 countries, among them Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Russia and South Africa, which are among the largest and most populous nations on Earth, have agreed to make the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving land degradation neutrality a national target. He also mentioned that PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the high-level segment meeting on September 9, 2019.

Talking about the importance of such large scale conferences, Javadekar said, “Coming together at a world platform like this to share good stories and experiences will help the world. We can leapfrog for a good start in each country. Therefore, this UNCCD is very important and we expect some good outcomes which will be notified in Delhi Declaration. Delhi Declaration will form the future course of action.”

Echoing these sentiments, Ibrahim, drew attention to the warnings sounded by recent scientific assessments and the growing public alarm at the frequency of weather-related disasters such as drought, forest fires, flash floods and soil loss, but urged delegates to be mindful of the opportunities for change that are opening up, and take action. He thanked the Government of India for hosting the International Conference. “We are very fortunate to be here in India. This is undoubtedly going to be the largest COP ever organised by the UNCCD,” said Ibrahim, according to a PIB release.