1. Negotiations

UN Convention to Combat Desertification – UNCCD

The 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found. Parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.

The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions—along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—and was called for in Agenda 21, the programme of action adopted at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or Earth Summit).

Events

Showing 21 - 30 of 49 results

UNCCD COP 8

The COP approved twenty-nine decisions including on the ten-year strategic plan, which attracted the most attention from COP 8 delegates who saw it as an opportunity to refocus the UNCCD’s institutions with the goal of furthering implementation.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 3 September 2007 - 14 September 2007

UNCCD CRIC 5

The main focus of the review was the implementation of the UNCCD in affected country parties in regions other than Africa.
Event 12 March 2007 - 21 March 2007

UNCCD COP 7

Although parties discussed a number of important issues, such as inclusion of an additional agenda on the procedure for the selection of an Executive Secretary, regional coordination units, and the programme and budget for the 2006-2007 biennium, the meeting's outcomes did not meet countries' expectations and the COP was not deemed successful in advancing the UNCCD's implementation.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 17 October 2005 - 28 October 2005

UNCCD CRIC 3

Delegates convened in plenary sessions, regional consultations, and informal consultations, to review the implementation of the Convention in Africa, consider issues relating to the Convention’s implementation at the global level, share experiences, and make concrete recommendations for the future work of the UNCCD.
Event 2 May 2005 - 11 May 2005

UNCCD COP 6

The COP marked the UNCCD’s transition from awareness raising to implementation. Among the issues marking the transition were the designation of the GEF as a financial mechanism to the CCD and identification of criteria for the CRIC’s COP-7 review.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 25 August 2003 - 6 September 2003

UNCCD CRIC 1

The first meeting of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention met to hear case study presentations from the five UNCCD regions and to undertake an interactive dialogue on lessons learned.
Event 11 November 2002 - 22 November 2002

UNCCD COP 5

Progress was made in a number of areas, including the establishment of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of the Convention, the identification of modalities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Committee on Science and Technology, and the enhancement of the UNCCD’s financial base following strong support for a proposal by the Global Environment Facility to designate land degradation as another focal area for funding.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 1 October 2001 - 13 October 2001

UNCCD COP 4

Many left UNCCD COP 4 contemplating the missed opportunities, noting time lost to procedural obstacles that hindered progress on substantial issues relating to the review of implementation, a loss of institutional memory, a void in leadership, and apparent disinterest in the UNCCD among some developed countries.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 11 December 2000 - 22 December 2000