UNEP-IEMP participated in the seventh Kubuqi International Desert Forumon July 27-28th in Ordos, China. The UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw stated that the Forum demonstrates the power of partnerships at every level in tackling issues related to desertification and land degradation, such as biodiversity loss, climate change and social inequality. Mr. Thiaw also delivered the message from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who stressed the utmost importance of reversing land degradation and desertification to meet the challenge of deepening climate emergency and rapid population growth. Mr. Guterres also remarked that the Forum is an opportunity to share and scale up success stories in and beyond China. This forum recived a letter from the President of China H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, who praised county's commitment to international cooperation for protecting global environment. Vice Premier of China H.E. Ms. Sun Chunlan also addressed the Forum, emphasizing that green economy is an important platform for achieving sustainable development goals and that China's success in reversing desertification and land desertification can contribute to the global ecological governance. UNEP-IEMP shared its experiences and platform of south-south cooperation for combatting desertification in the developing countries. Related knowledge products from UNEP-IEMP were shared with the participants, and the forum helped to strengthen cooperation partnerships with these vulnerable developing countries.
For more, please read:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2019-07-27/secretary-generals-message-seventh-kubuqi-international-desert-forum
