United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
The international community has long recognized that desertification is a major economic, social and environmental problem of concern to many countries in all regions of the world.In December 1992, the General Assembly adopted resolution 47/188 which called for the creation of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INCD) to prepare, by June 1994, a Convention to Combat Desertification,The Convention was adopted in Paris on 17 June 1994 and opened for signature there on 14-15 October 1994. It entered into force on 26 December 1996, 90 days after the fiftieth ratification was received.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Government agency
- Industry Type:
- Environmental
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
About Us
Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found. In the 10-Year Strategy of the UNCCD (2008-2018) that was adopted in 2007, Parties to the Convention further specified their goals: 'to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental sustainability'.
The Convention’s 194 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought. The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.
As the dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, the UNCCD collaborates closely with the other two Rio Conventions; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources.
The Conference of the Parties
The COP was established by the Convention as the supreme decision-making body; it comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union. Up to the year 2005, the COP had held seven sessions; it has been meeting biennially since 2001. One of the main functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Parties detailing how they are carrying out their commitments; the COP makes recommendations on the basis of these reports. It also has the power to make amendments to the Convention or to adopt new annexes, such as additional regional implementation annexes. In this way, the COP can guide the Convention as global circumstances and national needs change. To assist the COP, the Convention provides for subsidiary bodies and allows the COP to establish additional ones if necessary.
The Bureau of the COP
At the beginning of the first meeting of each ordinary session, a President and nine Vice-Presidents are elected from among the representatives of the Parties present at the session in a manner that every geographical region shall be represented by at least two members. They serve as the Bureau of the session. One of the Vice-Presidents shall act as Rapporteur.
The President declares the opening and closing of the session, presides at the meetings of the session, ensures the observance of the present rules, and has complete control of the proceedings and over the maintenance of order thereat. The President, if temporarily absent from a meeting or any part thereof, shall designate a Vice-President to act as President.
The Bureau of the COP has an important role in the UNCCD process also outside the sessions, as it directs various aspects concerning the follow-up of the COP and the preparations of the next one. The COP Bureau is also often assigned by the COP to supervise specific, particularly demanding or sensitive tasks or processes that are carried out between the COP sessions.
The Committee on Science and Technology
Mandate
In line with Article 24 of the UNCCD, the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) is established as a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to provide it with information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. The CST meets in conjunction with the ordinary sessions of the COP. It is meant to be multidisciplinary, open to the participation of all Parties, and composed of government representatives competent in the relevant fields of expertise.
As outlined too in Article 24, the COP has established a roster of independent experts with expertise and experience in the relevant fields.
Terms of Reference
The CST is assigned various advisory functions, data and information functions, research and review function, functions related to technology, and evaluation functions (15/COP.9). It makes recommendations to the COP on ways and means to facilitate and strengthen networking at the local, national and other levels, with a view to ensuring that the thematic needs set out in Articles 16 to 19 of the Convention are addressed. The role and responsibilities of the Committee are actively supported by the work of the CST Bureau.
Reshaping the CST
When adopting the ten-year Strategy to enhance the implementation of the Convention, the COP decided to reshape the operation of the CST. The new elements include, among others, the periodic organization of CST sessions in a predominantly scientific and technical conference-style format by the CST Bureau in consultation with the lead institution/consortium. Each session focuses on a defined priority theme. More information on the Scientific Conferences can be found under the following link: UNCCD Scientific Conferences.
Programme of Work
Further in line with The Strategy, the COP requests the preparation of multi-year results-based workplans for the CST, which are updated for each COP session, and subsequently considered and approved by the COP. The current work plan and work programme of the CST are outlined in the following decisions: 1/COP.10 and 27/COP.10. The current priority areas of work of the CST include the following thematic topics:
- Monitoring and Assessment
- UNCCD Scientific Conferences
- International Scientific Advice
- Knowledge Management
- Fellowship Programme
Information on the priority areas of work of the CST prior to the adoption of The Strategy can be found under the following link: Previous thematic topics considered by the CST.
The Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention
Parties at COP 9 adopted new Terms of Reference of the CRIC annexed to decision 11/COP.9 and decided to establish the CRIC as a standing subsidiary body of the COP. These Terms of Reference also determine the mandate of CRIC sessions held between ordinary sessions of the COP (such as CRIC 9) and the mandate of CRIC sessions held in conjunction with ordinary sessions of the COP (such as CRIC 10).
According to its new Terms of Reference the CRIC shall assist the COP in the review of the implementation of the Convention under the authority and guidance of the COP and as an integral part of the performance review and assessment of implementation system (PRAIS) established by the COP at its ninth session.