The United Nations high-level environmental officials said on September 7, 2019 that forest fires, droughts and other forms of land degradation caused the global economy to lose up to $15 trillion annually (about 106.7 trillion yuan) and exacerbated the climate change crisis.

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Theo, pointed out that land degradation caused 10% to 17% of the world economy. According to the World Bank, this is about 85.8 trillion US dollars (about 610.5 trillion yuan). “In short, investing in land restoration is a way to improve livelihoods, reduce the vulnerability of climate change, and reduce economic risks.” Theo was the deputy head of UNEP and a Mauritanian official in New Delhi, India. At the UNCCD meeting, the above warning was sent through video. He pointed out that drought and desertification are now attacking 70 countries every year, and sandstorms are becoming a growing global threat, causing asthma, bronchitis and other health problems. “The good news is that technology, science and knowledge can reduce land degradation and permanently solve this problem. Land rehabilitative work is taking place in many parts of the world, and through land reclamation, we can mitigate climate change.”

The Desertification Convention talks convened from 196 signatories, about 100 government ministers and 8,000 representatives to discuss drought issues, land ownership, ecosystem rehabilitative, climate change, health, sandstorms and urban renewal funds, which will continue until September 13, 2019. Participants included Indian Prime Minister Modi, Saint Vincent Prime Minister Gossafo, and UN Under-Secretary-General Amina Muhammad. Theo affirmed the record attendance of the record-makers in the talks. “This means that the meeting will be an important turning point in managing limited land and water resources.” Theo said that the talks will produce the “Delhi Declaration” as This month's important reference document for the New York Climate Summit prompted the “national alliances with aspirations” to be more determined in response to the drought.

According to the Desertification Convention, the drought problem is getting worse. By 2025, some 1.8 billion people will face severe water shortages, and two-thirds of the world's population will live in a water-stressed environment. The Desertification Convention warns that despite the complex drought and slow development, the death toll is higher than other types of disasters. By 2045, the drought will force as many as 135 million people to leave their homes.

In August 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s land report stated that improving land management can help limit greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. According to the 43-page study, addressing desertification and other forms of land degradation helps keep global warming below 2°C. Author: Jiang Wei, etc., edit the / bin Songhai