World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought – History, Significance
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World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: General Knowledge
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is globally observed on June 17 every year. This day is thus aimed to create public awareness and highlight that environmental health and the health of humans are interlaced.
Moreover, this day also recognizes a dire need to develop novel methods to reduce and prevent land desertification and recover from drought.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought History
The credit for the proclamation of June 19 as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought goes to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that passed a resolution A/RES/49/115 in December 1994. This resolution later led to the drafting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on January 30, 1995.
This day also makes an excellent attempt to provide a platform where experts and the public discuss potential methods to reverse desertification and increased incidences of drought.
Some of the primary agendas that are adopted as the part of the desertification and sustainable development goals include:
- Sustainable management (consumption and production) of natural resources,
- Taking necessary actions to address issues directly and indirectly concerning climate change.
- Reducing and halting land degradation.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Aim and Significance
Due to an ever-increasing demand for food and human-oriented raw materials, research has found that nearly 3/4th of the Earth’s ice-free land has been transformed. Moreover, land degradation resulting from human settlements has led to negative consequences on the overall health of humans and other living species.
Given these statistics, the Significance of International Day to Combat Desertification and Drought has become paramount.
Acknowledging the harm humans have consistently done to the environment that has also negatively affected fellow human beings is the first step toward restoring nature, and this is what the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought aims to do.
Over the years, humans have significantly impacted environmental health by their continuous exploitation of land and soil. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is an attempt to reacknowledge the human exploitation of the environment and contribute our part in supporting the present and future generations.
Q. On which day is the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought celebrated?
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated annually on June 17.
Q. Which resolution initiated the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought?
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was declared a day of international significance after the resolution A/RES/49/115 was adopted by the United Nations Assembly in December 1994.
Q. Why is the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought celebrated?
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated to create public awareness about the ongoing issues concerning desertification and drought.
Q. In which year was the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification drafted and what does it have to do with World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought?
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was drafted on January 30, 1995. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated to create public awareness about the ongoing issues concerning desertification and drought.