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9 May 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n H.E. President Alassane Ouattara<\/p>\n Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Deputy Secretary General, H.E. Ms Amina Mohammed<\/p>\n H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCCD<\/p>\n Excellencies, dignitaries, dear friends<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It is an honor for me to participate at the \u201cHead of States Summit\u201d of the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. I thank President Ouattara for hosting this summit, and for his initiative of presenting the \u2018Abidjan Legacy Progam\u2019.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We convene this meeting under the highly relevant theme of: \u2018Land. Life. Legacy: From scarcity to prosperity’.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This summit is an important platform to address serious issues affecting the well-being of people and their livelihoods, and of the environment.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Through it, we aim to move closer to achieving Target 15.3 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda: combatting desertification and restoring degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Productive land is critical to global food security and healthy ecosystems, as well as to the maintenance of stable livelihoods. It is a precondition for the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; for progress on the Rio Conventions on biodiversity and climate change; and for tackling pollution on land and at sea.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today, land degradation undermines the well-being of some 3.2 billion people. Unsustainable land use, agriculture and soil management practices are some of the biggest drivers of desertification, land degradation and drought. We are responsible for the bulk of this, considering that human activities directly influence 70 per cent of the world\u2019s land.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Reversing these trends is vital for effective action on behalf of climate and biodiversity. This is particularly important to the vulnerable communities residing in LDCs and LLDCs and SIDS.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We cannot afford the alternative, of letting our relationship with mother nature deteriorate to the point of no return. Even after two years, we have not fully escaped the shadow of COVID-19. We would do well to reflect upon the truth that a healthy relationship with nature is critical to prevent our exposure to new diseases and potential future pandemics.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Restoring degraded land and implementing sustainable land management practices will help sustain better livelihoods, tackle poverty, and enhance food and water security. It will also empower women and girls who are forced to spend unproductive hours searching and fetching water. This is because restored lands retain more water and replenish aquifers.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As global warming and the climate crisis presents us with devastating consequences, land restoration will be a crucial part of our efforts to fight back. Reforestation and land restoration are among the most powerful strategies at our disposal to drastically reduce carbon emissions. This will help bridge the gaps between the Nationally Determined Contributions and the goals of the Paris Agreement.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n By restoring degraded land at the global level, we can lock away three billion tons of atmospheric carbon into the soil every year. This would offset around 10 percent of the world\u2019s current annual energy-related emissions. By taking action to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, we can facilitate the kind of climate mitigation measures needed to keep global warming under 2\u00b0C by 2030.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I am encouraged by the proclamation by the General Assembly of the Decade on ecosystem restoration, as well as by growing regional and global initiatives on restoring degraded lands.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must build on this momentum. In that same spirit, we need to mobilize and implement effective drought policies to address water scarcity. To ensure drought preparedness, we must ensure early warning systems, and implement preparatory policies so that we are not caught unaware. Towards that end, we need to implement evidence-based research, share best practices, and draw upon the insights of traditional knowledge.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must emulate successful initiatives, such as the African Great Green Wall, which aims to build the resilience of the region\u2019s natural systems through sound ecosystem management.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It does this through sustainably developing land resources, protecting rural heritage, and improving living conditions for local populations. Exporting this inspiring initiative to other regions will benefit the global community.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n By the end of this important Summit, let us recommit to achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us build upon the commitments and initiatives made during the Summit on Biodiversity, COP26, and the 2021 Food Systems Summit.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us finally resolve to take the necessary action to tackle climate change, conserve and protect biodiversity, and maintain vital ecosystem services.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n That is how we will ensure our shared prosperity and well-being, in the context of a climate responsible world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Abidjan, Cote d\u2019Ivoire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-265408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n