Every year, millions come together to celebrate World Environment Day, one of the largest international events dedicated to environmental protection, organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This year, on Wednesday, the theme is \"Our Land, Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration\", highlighting the urgent need to restore land, combat desertification, and enhance resilience against drought.
Land degradation, desertification, and drought constitute a silent crisis impacting billions worldwide. Human activities and climatic changes are the primary culprits behind this escalating issue. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40 percent of the Earth's land is degraded, affecting around 3.2 billion people globally. The situation is projected to worsen, with over three-quarters of the world's population potentially facing drought by 2050.
Water scarcity is expected to impact 4.8 to 5.7 billion people for at least one month each year. Additionally, up to 216 million people could be forced to migrate by 2050 due to drought, water scarcity, declining crop productivity, sea-level rise, and overpopulation.
The degradation of land is driven by factors such as deforestation, the conversion of grasslands into croplands, and the over-exploitation of water and soil in drylands. As fertile land turns to dust, natural resources and vegetation are depleted, undermining biodiversity and leading to crop failures that threaten global food security.
World Environment Day serves as a crucial reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and restore our planet's land. By raising awareness and taking decisive action, we can ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
Reference(s):
World Environment Day 2024: Stop fertile soil from turning to dust
cgtn.com
