Annex I
The New Delhi Declaration: Investing in Land and Unlocking Opportunities
1. Encourage the development of community-driven transformative projects and programmes that are gender-responsive, at local, national and regional level, to drive the implementation of the Convention;
2. Also encourage, in the context of projects aimed at combating desertification/land degradation and drought and achieving land degradation neutrality and resilience-building, inter alia and as appropriate, the transition and increased access to energy in rural and urban communities, within the scope of the UNCCD;
3. Further encourage a proactive approach to reducing the risks and impacts of desertification/land degradation and drought through the implementation of drought preparedness plans and increased risk mitigation for drought and sand and dust storms;
Annex II
Summary of the high-level segment of the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth session
Ministerial round table 1: Land, climate and renewable energy
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18. The UNCCD should be proactively engaged in promoting and helping Parties deliver on the potential of land for climate action. Together, we can promote opportunities that support the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and the development of an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework, taking into consideration the growing relevance of land-based solutions for climate action and biodiversity conservation and the mutually supportive implementation of the three Rio Conventions. Land restoration as a synergetic tool with multiple potential benefits should therefore be prioritized as a nature-based solution and receive higher levels of international financing. More emphasis is needed on synergies between the three Rio Conventions, but with the impact of climate change set to hit, it is important to remember the challenge of water scarcity and abundance and the need to develop a circular economy. In particular, the joint development of land and renewable energy for the benefit of rural communities would be a strategic business case. Gender issues are crucial to SLM and must be given continuous attention at all levels, including in conversations about land, climate and renewable energy where the resource access issue is critical.
19. Ending on a high note, the Co-Chair said that if we revive our spirits and get the work done, we can deliver on our ambitions and do much better because there is no Planet B.
20. Approximately 70 people attended and actively participated in Round table two: Rural and urban communities – failing or flourishing together.
Ministerial round table 2: Rural and urban communities – failing or flourishing together
21. H.E. Ms. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission (AUC), opened the discussions by highlighting (a) the alignment of the round table with Africa’s Agenda 2063 strategy; and (b) the fact that there is a great need to address gender imbalances related to the insecurity of land tenure. The African Union has a youth engagement initiative to create 11 million jobs by 2021, while its Rural Africa Task Force focuses on developing rural areas.
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Ministerial round table 3: Fostering a global movement for ecosystem restoration
41. The speakers highlighted a wide range of projects and programmes in their respective countries, such as sustainable land management, watershed management, and sand and dust storm source mitigation initiatives, as well as projects designed to create green jobs and avoid forced migration. Many speakers emphasized the role of forests and trees and the need to establish a concrete action strategy linking the three Rio conventions to harness ecosystem restoration, green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions. Several speakers emphasized that gender equality and women’s empowerment is a critical element in the success of restoration activities.
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Interactive dialogue 2: Healthy land – healthy people
54. In the discussions, H.E. Ms. Lorena Aguilar Revelo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, highlighted the importance of gender in addressing health issues. Gender equality and the collection of disaggregated data on the differentiated health impacts of land degradation and water scarcity should guide policy discussions and implementation.
55. Ambassador Howard Bamsey, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Global Water Partnership, said “We can’t have healthy land and healthy life without healthy water.” He stressed that the vulnerability of water systems is also affecting the health of land. He shared his concern that the world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 because of long-term water scarcity for humans and ecosystems. Collaboration will be key, and the Global Water Partnership’s 3,000 partners across the world could be instrumental in this. The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations highlighted soil pollution: without clean soils there can be no health. Soil pollution impacts food quality, security and human and ecosystem health.
56. The need for behavioural change was emphasized by many who noted the successful reduction in tobacco consumption as a good example of the role that raising awareness among consumers could play in bringing back the health of the land.
57. The key message is that humans should be at the centre of efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought, as highlighted in the UNCCD 2018–2030 Strategic Framework. Certainly, populations are not equally vulnerable and gender inequality is an important factor. Ill health and sickness caused by land degradation and drought are the human face of the implementation of the Convention. Strategies that reduce DLDD would provide for better overall human health. At the same time, public health systems will need to adapt to a changing world. Many speakers agreed that women’s empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable development as well as for the ‘healthy land, healthy people’ agenda. The vulnerability of our water supply and demand systems resulting from poor governance affect the health of land. Participants recommended strengthening broader water and soil partnership at all levels.
