Approximately 6000 participants attended the meeting. The Parties to the Convention agreed on actions to further implement the Convention’s goals for 2018-2030 for furthering sustainable development by combatting land degradation and showing pragmatic ways to enhance resilience to droughts. Over 30 decisions were taken at the Conference which can be found here: https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/sessions/documents/2019-10/cop23add1%20-%20advance%20new.pdf 

The Conference also adopted the New Delhi Declaration: Investing in Land and Unlocking Opportunities: https://www.unccd.int/news-events/new-delhi-declaration-investing-land-and-unlocking-opportunities 

At the closing of COP14, the UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw shared these takeaway messages:

• Land restoration is the cheapest solution to climate change and biodiversity loss
• Land restoration makes business sense if regulations and incentives to reward investment are in place
• Drought preparedness and response are critical in the face of climate change
• To put people first is to ensure gender balance, engage youth, secure land rights

The Executive Secretary’s full speech can be found here: https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/relevant-links/2019-09/130919%20UNCCD%20ES_COP%2014-Closing%20speech.pdf 

Mariam Akhtar-Schuster, DNI Advisory Board