Daily Current Affairs : 28-October-2023
In a recent development, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has unveiled its groundbreaking Data Dashboard, revealing a concerning trend: land degradation is rapidly advancing across all regions. This issue has significant implications for environmental sustainability and human well-being.
What is Land Degradation?
Land degradation, caused by factors like extreme weather and human activities, deteriorates soil quality and utility. Severe cases lead to desertification, transforming regions into arid landscapes. The consequences include climate change acceleration, biodiversity loss, and societal challenges like migration and diseases.
UNCCD: Addressing Interconnected Challenges
Established in 1994, UNCCD is a pivotal international agreement addressing land, climate, and biodiversity challenges. Collaborating with conventions like CBD and UNFCCC, UNCCD works towards sustainable land management, emphasizing the significance of drylands, vital ecosystems for over a billion people.
UNCCD’s LDN Framework: A Path to Sustainability
The UNCCD’s 2018-2030 Strategic Framework commits to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). This involves restoring degraded land, benefiting livelihoods and curbing drought effects. LDN aligns with SDG Goal 15, promoting responsible resource management and climate action for present and future generations.
UNCCD’s Data Highlights
- Global Land Loss: Between 2015-2019, the world lost 100 million hectares yearly, emphasizing rapid global land degradation.
- High Impact Regions: Eastern and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean face severe degradation, impacting 20% of their land. Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America experience rates surpassing the global average.
- Positive Progress: Despite challenges, countries like Botswana and the Dominican Republic reduced degradation. Uzbekistan made notable strides, decreasing degraded land.
Recommendations for Achieving LDN Targets
- Restoration Priority: UNCCD stresses restoring 1.5 billion hectares by 2030 to meet LDN goals.
- Halting Degradation: Combining halting further degradation with accelerated restoration efforts is key to LDN success.
- Voluntary LDN Targets: Nations have set voluntary LDN targets for 2030, showcasing their commitment.
- Crucial Funding: Adequate funding is vital to support these initiatives and align with LDN targets, ensuring global efforts combat land degradation effectively.
Important Points:
- Land Degradation Causes:
- Extreme weather conditions, especially drought
- Human activities that pollute or degrade soil quality
- Impact of Land Degradation:
- Leads to desertification in arid regions
- Accelerates climate change and biodiversity loss
- Contributes to droughts, wildfires, migration, and infectious diseases
- UNCCD and its Role:
- Established in 1994, legally binding international agreement
- Focuses on arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions (drylands)
- Collaborates with other conventions addressing land, climate, and biodiversity
- UNCCD’s LDN Framework:
- Aims to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030
- Focuses on restoring degraded land, enhancing livelihoods, and reducing drought impacts
- Aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 15 for environmental protection
- UNCCD’s Data Highlights:
- Global annual loss of over 100 million hectares of productive land (2015-2019)
- Severe land degradation in Eastern and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean
- Positive progress in some countries (e.g., Botswana, Dominican Republic, Uzbekistan)
- Recommendations to Achieve LDN:
- Priority on restoring 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030
- Need to halt further degradation while accelerating restoration efforts
- Many countries have set voluntary LDN targets for 2030
- Adequate funding crucial to support LDN initiatives
- Importance of Action:
- Urgent need for global action against land degradation
- Investments in sustainable land management can mitigate climate change effects
- Preservation of vital ecosystems and a healthier future for humanity depend on combating land degradation effectively.
Why In News
Recently, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced the launch of its first-ever Data Dashboard, which shows that Land Degradation is advancing at an astonishing rate across all regions. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and sustainable land management practices to mitigate the devastating impact of desertification on ecosystems and human communities worldwide.
MCQs about Combatting Land Degradation: UNCCD’s Urgent Global Initiative
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What is the primary goal of the UNCCD’s 2018-2030 Strategic Framework?
A. Promoting sustainable water management
B. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)
C. Ensuring clean energy access
D. Reducing marine pollution
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Which regions have experienced severe land degradation according to UNCCD’s data?
A. North America and Europe
B. Eastern and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean
C. Australia and New Zealand
D. Middle East and North Africa
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What is the significance of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in the context of climate change?
A. LDN reduces marine pollution
B. LDN transforms land into urban areas
C. LDN can shift land from being a source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) to a carbon sink
D. LDN decreases air pollution
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What is crucial to support the efforts aimed at achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)?
A. International fashion trends
B. Adequate funding
C. Political campaign strategies
D. Social media popularity
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