Asia Community

📸 Capture the solutions that inspire change!
The UNCCD and GWP have launched a global photo competition at UNCCD COP 16 in December 2024 in Riyadh to highlight powerful solutions to drought and water scarcity.
From nature-based solutions to technological innovations, we’re looking for impactful images that showcase how communities and ecosystems build resilience to drought.
🏆 Finalists will have their work exhibited at UNCCD Headquarters in Bonn during the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on June 17, 2025.
💰 Winners in each category will receive a $500 gift card from the International Center of Photography or Fotografiska Museum.
⏳ Don’t miss the submission deadline: March 31, 2025!
📢 Winners will be announced in May 2025.
🔗 Submit your entry today and let your photos inspire action! https://droughtclp.unccd.int/photo-competition

COP16. (FINANCE DAY)
Explore the pivotal role of finance in addressing land degradation and building drought resilience with two global leaders: Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson and Louise Baker Managing Director of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification Global Mechanism.

Key insights:

🌱 Bridging the financing gap for land restoration goals
💡 Paradigm shifts in funding & action for 2030 targets
🤝 Collaborative engagement across sectors and stakeholders
🏛️ Empowering local governments for sustainable impact

Enhancing Urban Climate Action Ambition through Multilevel Governance
12 Nov 2024 | Baku, Azerbaijan

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in partnership with the Southern Denmark University, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Italy), the University of Sheffield (UK), and the Ministries of Environment of Sri Lanka and Estonia (Parties to COP), organized an official COP29 side event titled “Enhancing Urban Climate Action Ambition through Multilevel Governance” on 12 November 2024 from 18:30 to 20:00 hours. This event underscored the significance of multilateral governance in accelerating climate actions to mitigate disaster risks and boost urban resilience. Dr. Senaka Basnayake, Chief, Climate Resilience of ADPC emphasized the need for regional drought risk management strategies to support national initiatives. He highlighted the role of such strategies in helping urban authorities promote climate actions like water conservation, WASH improvements, green infrastructure expansion, and risk-informed urban planning. He also announced that ADPC, in partnership with UNCCD, will launch a regional drought risk management strategy for South Asia at the UNCCD COP16 in December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Full news: https://www.adpc.net/igo/contents/Media/media-news.asp?pid=1981

Societal drought vulnerability and the Syrian climate-conflict nexus are better explained by agriculture than meteorology

This is an interesting research article exploring the relationship between drought and peace/violence based on evidence from Syria.
Full text: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00405-w
Abstract: Droughts are often suspected to increase the risk of violent conflict through agricultural production shocks, and existing studies often explore these links through meteorological proxies. In Syria, an alleged agricultural collapse caused by drought is assumed to have contributed to increased migration and the conflict outbreak in 2011. Here we use satellite derived cropland and climate data to study land use dynamics in relation to drought and conflict in Syria. We show that claims of an agricultural collapse cannot be substantiated as croplands saw a fast recovery after the 2007–2009 drought. Our study highlights the importance of considering land-use dynamics for understanding linkages between meteorological droughts, agricultural impacts, migration and conflict. Furthermore, our results suggest that the influential drought-migration-conflict narrative for Syria needs to be reexamined, with implications for wider discussions of how climate change might alter conflict risk.

From 30 September 30 to 2 October 2024, decision-makers and experts will gather in Geneva to assess global progress on drought resilience. Our guide gives you an overview of key sessions, including:

• Proactive drought risk management and resilience strategies
• Governance challenges and solutions for better climate adaptation
• Nature-based solutions and the role of all sectors in drought resilience

The outcomes of the conference will be crucial in shaping future international negotiations and policies on drought resilience, including the UNCCD Conference of the Parties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this December.

Learn more and stay tuned for insights and actionable steps from the conference: https://lnkd.in/eJyXg3F6