COP 14 closes with adoption of New Delhi Declaration

The 12-day long 14^th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has come to a close today, with thought-provoking discussions on land management, restoration of degraded land, drought, climate change, renewable energy, women empowerment, gender equality, water scarcity and various other issues. The COP 14 came to a close with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.

Over 190 countries adopted the “New Delhi Declaration” which focuses on issues ranging from management and restoration of degraded land to drought and climate change.
COP14

The New Delhi Declaration: Key Points

Acknowledged that dryland ecosystems are areas of special focus and recognizes that desertification/land degradation and drought undermines health, development and prosperity in all regions.
Recalled the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UNCCD 2018–2030 Strategic Framework and looking forward to comprehensively reviewing and monitoring progress with the aim of accelerating the implementation of both.
Called for synergies in addressing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Promotes opportunities that support, as appropriate and applicable, the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and the development of an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework, taking into consideration land-based solutions for climate action and biodiversity conservation and the mutually supportive implementation of the three Rio conventions;
Welcomed the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), committing to adopt an integrated, best-practice approach to land restoration based on scientific evidence and traditional knowledge that offers hope to vulnerable communities and invite Parties, observers and other relevant UNCCD stakeholders, including the private sector, to accelerate and scale up relevant initiatives at all levels.
Encouraged the local governments to adopt integrated land use management and enhanced land governance to rehabilitate the natural resource base that makes cities sustainable, taking into consideration the New Urban Agenda, including by reducing rates of land consumption and soil sealing along with biodiversity and ecosystem loss
Welcomed the various initiatives targeting land degradation neutrality by India such as Har Khet Ko Pani, More Crop Per Drop, the National Afforestation Program, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the Soil Health Card Scheme.

Delhi Declaration is an ambitious statement of global action by each country on how to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality.
Shri Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister MoEF&CC

India was the proud host of UNCCD COP14, which witnessed widespread participation from over 9000 participants from all across the globe.

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