Latest news with #UnitedNationsConventiontoCombatDesertification
Middle East
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// PM congratulates environment minister on UN appointment
CAIRO, May 23 (MENA) - The Cabinet extended its congratulations to Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad following the announcement by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres of her appointment as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed that the minister's appointment to this high-ranking position reflects the international community's confidence in the capability of Egyptian expertise to support global efforts in addressing environmental challenges. He noted that the appointment crowns the minister's outstanding competence and distinguished national service. He also wished her success in fulfilling the responsibilities of her new role. Madbouly further stated that this selection is a testament to the exceptional performance of Egyptian women ministers in managing various portfolios and achieving globally recognized success. He emphasized that this underscores the continued vital role of Egyptian women as key partners in nation-building and in advancing the country's development and global stature. (MENA) R E E/
Qatar Tribune
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Ministry workshop discusses final draft of national strategy, action plan to combat desertification
QNA Doha The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched the second workshop to discuss the final draft of the National Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Desertification in the State of Qatar. The workshop, which will be held on May 20 and 21, features the participation of several national entities and a select group of experts and specialists. The workshop is held under the patronage of Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, and is part of the country's efforts to promote environmental sustainability and address the challenges of land degradation through a comprehensive national strategy that aligns with the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030) and seeks to integrate with the country's developmental, economic, and social trajectories. In his opening remarks, Dr Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al Musalmani, who serves as Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves at the Ministry, emphasised that the national strategy being prepared in cooperation with relevant authorities reflects Qatar's commitment to combating desertification and drought from a sustainable development perspective. This strategy involves conserving natural resources, protecting biodiversity, achieving optimal land use, and updating relevant legislative and executive frameworks. Al Musalmani noted that Qatar, since joining the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in January 1999, has continued to support international efforts in this field by developing environmental policies and legislation and strengthening cooperation with international partners. For his part, Director of the Wildlife Development Department at the ministry Yousef Ibrahim Al Hamar noted that the workshop represents an advanced step toward adopting a comprehensive national program to combat desertification, based on technical and field consultations, most notably the workshop held last July to discuss the initial draft. He added that the preparation of the national programme falls within the framework of the third National Development Strategy, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly its environmental pillar, which aims to achieve a balance between economic and social development and environmental protection. Al Hamar highlighted the importance of adopting an integrated national approach and close cooperation between all relevant parties, emphasising that the success of the strategy depends on effective institutional partnerships during both the preparation and implementation phases. The workshop featured a presentation by expert Bilal Qteishat on the general framework for preparing the international strategy to combat desertification, as well as a review of the achievements made in preparing the national draft, within the context of efforts to reduce land degradation and strengthen the country's environmental commitments at the regional and international levels.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Loro Piana's Mongolian Initiative; Thermore's New Drop; Challenge the Fabric's 2025 Winner: Short Takes
Loro Piana to the Rescue: Loro Piana is committed to safeguard its sourcing hubs globally. In the latest development, the Italian luxury house is launching 'Resilient Threads,' a five-year program aimed at supporting the ecosystem of Mongolia with a range of activities geared at protecting the local environment, people and animal welfare. The program is developed in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, or UNCCD, the Sustainable Fibre Alliance, or SFA, and the Odyssey Conservation Trust, or OCT. More from WWD Art Basel 2025: Formafantasma, Grace Wales Bonner Medalists of Brand New Award Adidas Is No Longer Sourcing Kangaroo Skins for Its Athletic Shoes EXCLUSIVE: Sedef Uncu Aki Named CEO at Next Gen Materials Company Gozen 'Over the last decades, Loro Piana has established itself as a key advocate for cashmere quality in Mongolia, building strong, honest and trustful relationships. Our longstanding presence has taught us that the exceptional quality of Loro Piana cashmere originates from the dedication of herders and the region's rich cashmere-sourcing traditions,' said Pier Luigi Loro Piana, vice chairman of Loro Piana. 'Together we understand and uphold the welfare of the animals and the environment. It is a commitment to continuous learning, responsible stewardship and collaborative creation,' he added. The luxury brand operates its only out-of-Italy manufacturing facility in the country, in the Ulaanbaatar region. Through the program — aligned with parent company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton's 'Life 360' environmental strategy — it pledges to support five districts in Mongolia's highly vulnerable Sukhbaatar province, impacted by heavy climate disruption posing risks to the livelihoods of herders, biodiversity of the area, one of the world's last intact grassland ecosystems, and supply chain resilience. This year Loro Piana will establish the first mobile 'One Health Hub' in the region to reach remote location with vehicles delivering services such as preventive health care and vaccination campaigns, training sessions and health care awareness initiatives. It will also be home to a seeds bank to protect and grow biodiversity-fueling, at-risk flora. 'At Loro Piana, our commitment to preserve the ecosystems that sustain our craft is unwavering. This multiyear program will support the Mongolian communities who are vital partners to the maison while protecting the environment,' said Loro Piana's chief executive officer Damien Bertrand. Eco-padding: As fashion customers have become increasingly spoiled by outerwear that's both lightweight and ultra warm, Thermore, the Milan-based premium thermal insulation company for apparel and outerwear, is introducing Ecodown Fibers Sync, billed as a featherlight, exceptionally resilient padding. Intended for both slim and puffy outerwear, the new material prevents the conglomeration of fibers and pushes the sustainability envelope further as it is entirely crafted from recycled fibers derived from post-consumer PET bottles. It boasts GRS, Bluesign and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification. Fabric Challenge: Swedish but London-based young talent Petra Fagerström scooped up the top prize of the fifth Challenge the Fabric Award, held in Milan this week. Organized yearly since 2018 by the Swedish Fashion Council with support from Ekman Group, a trading house firm covering forest-based products ranging from packing and paper to recovered materials, Challenge the Fabric is a two-day initiative highlighting material innovation and promoting cross-industry collaboration with a focus on man-made cellulosic fibers. Fagerström was rewarded with $10,000 for her look, a cool jersey midi skirt with grommeted perforations and twill blouson combo crafted from Sappi Verve's trademarked Ecocell fibers. The jury panel recognized Fagerström's 'strength across all criteria: innovation, creativity, commercial potential, brand purpose and future impact,' stating her work conveyed her message with clarity and conviction. Jurors included 10 Corso Como brand curator Aldo Camillo Gotti; Hodakova founder and creative director Ellen Hodakova Larsson; Andrea Rosso, OTB's sustainability ambassador, and Riccardo Turrisi, sustainable innovation manager at Kering, among others. The Central Saint Martins and Parsons Paris graduate Fagerström is known for pushing the sustainability agenda, having scooped up several eco-minded awards in the past, including two at 38th edition of the International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories — Hyères in 2023, such as the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Award and the Chanel-powered L'Atelier des Matières Prize, for her lenticular pleated fabrics. Fagerström was shortlisted among a roster of seven applicants, each collaborating with a different, partner textile and material firm. Other finalists included Olympia Schiele with her brand Louther; Nuba by Cameron Williams; Oscar Quyang; Shan Huq; Mattie Barringer's and Amanda McGowan's Women's History Museu, and Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen. Best of WWD Walmart Calls California Waste Dumping Lawsuit 'Unjustified' Year in Review: Sustainability's Biggest Controversies of 2021 Year in Review: Sustainability's New Strides
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Deputy minister urges urgent action to combat desertification and land degradation
The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts has welcomed the need for members of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to do more in addressing desertification, land degradation, and drought while continuing to build strong partnerships for integrated solutions. Image: Supplied The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, has welcomed the need for members of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to do more in addressing Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD) while continuing to build strong partnerships for integrated solutions. On Tuesday, on the first day of the four-day conference, the deputy minister delivered her keynote address to various member states and dignitaries gathered at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Sandton. "In the next four days, we will deliberate on issues relating to desertification, land degradation, and drought. I am pleased to confirm that many faces here are not new to me, as I had an opportunity to meet many of you during the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties in Saudi Arabia. "As you may recall, the UNCCD COP16 underscored the need to mobilise additional and innovative resources to support Parties in accelerating actions and interventions on the ground to address desertification, land degradation, and drought, and synergies with other environmental issues." Swarts said desertification, land degradation, and drought form part of the priority focus areas for South Africa's Presidency of the G20 Environment, Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "For the first time in the history of the G20 Presidency, South Africa has made a bold commitment by including DLDD issues among its G20 priorities. This commitment fosters global solidarity in addressing the drivers of DLDD while promoting the mainstreaming of Sustainable Land Management practices and approaches across key sectors. "The main focus under the G20 ECSWG priority on DLDD is on the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and their deliverables," she said. Speaking on the importance of Integrated Land Use Planning (IDN – ILUP) and target setting programme of the UNCCD, Baron Jospeh from the UNCCD Secretariat stressed the need for vertical and horizontal integration strategies. "I embrace the need for vertical and horizontal integration strategies, and the key thing is that once you fully embrace this approach, you are going to be linking various data sets. You are going to be able to better position cross collaborations," he said.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Long-Term Drying Could Impact Water Availability, Study Finds
Scientists from Mississippi State and around the world are sounding the alarm when it comes to drought. This is not just temporary drought conditions, but rather long-term, intense drying known as aridification. Aridification is believed to now impact 2.3 billion people worldwide, which covers 40% of the planet's land. This is a significant concern for the world's breadbasket, which stretches from California's Central Valley to the Great Plains. New research that was recently published in Nature Water, highlights 'increasing aridification calls for urgent global adaptive solutions and policy action.' The findings from this study reveal the challenges and harsh realities that come from aridification. This long-term drying will greatly reduce water availability. This is causing farmers to have to rethink everything from what to plant, how to irrigate, and how to adapt to the future when the amount of water that is needed isn't a guarantee. 'This research has real implications for Mississippi,' said Pricope. 'When our lands dry out, it's not just farmers who suffer. Water becomes harder to manage, ecosystems get stressed, and rural communities—already stretched thin—face even greater challenges.' The scientists presented their findings to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a global platform where science meets policy. Desertification is where normally fertile land becomes a desert. This typically occurs because of extreme drought, poor farming practices and deforestation. The scientists highlighted solutions for the U.S. to stay ahead of aridification. They are urging the U.S. and the world to start using smarter irrigation strategies, grow agriculture on more drought-tolerant land and restore degraded land to retain more water. These solutions offer hope of not only protecting our water supply and farms, but the food supply they provide. 'Aridification isn't just a global issue with little bearing for our lives in Mississippi and the USA,' Pricope said. 'We need to act now to protect our farms, forests and families.' Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.
