The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) is Rio’s Stepchild, we said. Why? Because it was a neglected and frankly unwanted agreement, signed by the world at the Rio Conference in 1992.
It was agreed because African and other developing countries wanted it. It was a sop — give them the crumbs of an agreement, which the rich world did not understand or believe in. In Rio, climate change was the top agenda.
Next came the issue of biodiversity conservation — a resource largely surviving in the countries of the South, which need to be conserved and access secured. Then there was the issue of forests — a convention was proposed and staunchly opposed by the developing countries who said that it would infringe on their national resources. In all this acrimony, the desertification convention was born.
Today, close to 30 years later; now when the world is beginning to see the deadly impacts of climate change; now when it is still losing the war against the extinction of species and is faced with the dire prospects of catastrophic changes, this forgotten, this neglected convention, must shed its stepchild image.
It is the global agreement that will make or break our present and future. The fact is that management of our natural resources, particularly land and water — what this convention is concerned about — is a huge risk today; our own mismanagement is being exacerbated by weird weather events, which is making millions more vulnerable and more marginalized.
But there is another side as well. If we can improve our management of land and water, we can shave off the worst impacts of climate change. We can build wealth for the poorest and improve livelihoods.
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2019-utgaven av Millennium Post Kolkata.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2019-utgaven av Millennium Post Kolkata.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Today's new generation is coming prepared
Ajay plays a pivotal role in 'Azaad', a pre-Independence period drama
TOP BENGALI FILMS OF 2025 YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS
'Puratawn' marks the long-awaited return of Sharmila Tagore to Bengali cinema after a 14-year hiatus
Ananya Panday Had No Idea How Films Were Shot
Ananya Panday talked about how she was completely raw when she joined the Hindi film industry and took time to find her rhythm.
Zendaya and Tom are engaged
They got engaged during the Christmas and New Year's holidays
Jodie feels she is in her best phase
Hollywood star Jodie Foster, who is known for 'Taxi Driver', 'Silence of the Lambs' and others, feels that she is in her best phase.
Largest-ever Indian contingent to feature at India Open Super 750
Star shuttlers Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu will headline host India's largest-ever contingent of 21 players at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750 badminton tournament, starting here from January 14.
Djokovic's Australian Open scars still rankle
Novak Djokovic said he still feels \"a bit of trauma\" when he travels to Australia, stemming from his deportation in 2022 because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19.
Saikia, Bhatia to be elected at BCCI SGM
Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia will be elected BCCI secretary and treasurer, respectively, unopposed on January 12 after being the only two names featuring in the final list of contesting candidates.
AC Milan spread their wings
Wingers Leao and Pulisic script Milan's Italian Super Cup win
Neeraj, javelin & more: India looking to host top event
Neeraj does not need coach Zelezny 365 days a year