Information
Outcomes
Establishing
a New International Cooperation Mechanism
for
Global Desertification Control
Jose Luis
Rodriguez Zapatero
Former Prime
Minister of Spain
I
would like to start by thanking you for inviting me to the Fifth Kubuqi
International Desert Forum.
It
is a consolidated forum, a global reference. The only forum dedicated to the
development of the desert ecological civilization and the first International
Desert Forum worldwide.
Let
me, then, congratulate the promotors of this initiative.
There
are powerful reasons that explain why this Forum takes place here in Kubuqi, in
Inner Mongolia.
China
has made a tremendous effort to stop desertification in the Kubuqi desert.
The
Elion Resource Group has deservedly received the UN “Global Dry Land Champion” award
for its work, for the forestation of more than 5,000 square kilometers.
China,
the new global superpower, has committed itself to leading the way in the
construction of ecological civilization. This is a very good piece of news for
us all.
Because
there will be no future for our civilization without sustainability. There will
be no future without decisive and cooperative environmental policies.
There
will be no future, no progress, if we do not deal with climate change with
determination, with effective agreements.
There
will be no future, no progress, if we do not act against the deterioration of
biodiversity.
There
will be no future, no progress, if we do not fight desertification together and
do not take a stand to preserve and regenerate deserts.
There
will be no future, no possibility of eradicating world hunger, without
comprehensive ecological policies.
We
have reached a stage in our civilization when progress will only happen if we
change the way we relate to water, to land, to the emissions we produce, to
biodiversity.
In
the same way, Development must not distance itself from the fight against
poverty.
These
are the two great challenges of our times: the fight to defend the environment
and the fight against poverty.
Fortunately,
the international community isn't starting from scratch on these two issues.
There is a nearly thirty year-long history.
In
1983, the United Nations created the World Commission on Environment and
Development.
In
1992, the momentous Earth Summit in Rio paved the way for decisive
international conventions:
a.
The Convention on Biodiversity that came into effect in December 1993.
b.
The Climate Change Convention, which entered into force in March 1994.
c.
The Desertification Convention, adopted in Paris in 1994 and that entered into
force in 1996.
d.
And of course the Kyoto Protocol, approved a year later.
At
the start of this century, in the year 2000, the Millennium Goals were set to
eradicate extreme poverty in the fields of Education, Health, Clean Water and
Gender Equality.
I
would like to dwell on three aspects linked to the two great challenges of our
times, as I just mentioned: the fight against poverty and the fight for the
environment:
1.
The International Community's aspirations have merged to such a point that the
two will be enshrined together in a new global commitment in the September 2015
UN General Assembly.
2.
The UN has been the main agent of both processes, although we must also
recognize that the determination of superpowers, like China, will be decisive
to pull down this barrier.
3.
The only way forward is through a strong international cooperation. These
challenges are global. We can't justify political barriers because Nature
doesn't know barriers.
In
particular, when we consider Environmental Preservation, Climate Change,
Biodiversity and Desertification are the pillars on which we have to build the
structure that will preserve our ecosystem.
The
health of land, air, water, of species...and our health are one and
indivisible, a global ecosystem.
Let
me tell you a little bit about my country, Spain. As you know, it belongs to
the Northern Mediterranean region, one that was precisely included, at the
initiative of Spain, in the Convention to Combat Desertification, in Annex IV.
18%
of Spain's surface area is at high or very high risk of desertification and 20%
at medium risk.
The
reforestation activity in Spain has reached to date more than five million
hectares, which represents the restoration of 10% of our national territory.
Spain
has been a pioneer in desertification evaluation and follow-up initiatives and
continues to contribute new elements that are benchmarks for the international
community.
Let
me refer to some initiatives adopted in my country.
The
Project to Fight Desertification in the Mediterranean
The
creation of a National Inventory on Land
The
creation of an Early Warning System on desertification risks.
The
creation of a Map on land condition in Spain.
The
National Action Program against Desertification that was approved during my
Presidency, the year before we hosted the Eighth Session of the Conference of
the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Spain
is one of the main contributors to the Convention's funds.
We
particularly support the Latin America and Caribbean region, for example with
the Water Fund, created in 2007, that has mobilized up to 1.7 billion dollars
to take clean water to 3 million people.
Spain
has thus a recognized experience in the field of desertification and is eager
to offer its experience and technical skills to the international community in
such an important forum, as Kubuqi.
However,
despite the importance of national commitments, international cooperation is
the key field for fighting against desertification. And it is important to
acknowledge that not all the dimensions of this global ecosystem have been
given the same attention. The health of land is maybe the one that has received
less attention from the global public opinion. The UNCCD has received less
political attention and less financing than climate change and biological
diversity.
It
is true that it has gained momentum, because of its potential to improve issues
like agricultural production, forestry, food security, social stability and
even peace. Currently 80% of violent conflicts take place in drylands… This
fact deserves the international community's attention. It's simply revealing
and very shocking.
But
the impact that a good land management can have on climate change has not been
stressed enough. The emissions from deforestation and agriculture account for
25% of global emissions. The forest cover can avoid erosion and help to provide
clean and safe water sources. If we restore our natural resources, we will
protect biodiversity.
We
must thus give the same importance to Deforestation as we give to Climate
Change. And the international community must be consequent when it plans
financing for both programs.
And
the Knowledge Management, Science and Technology (KMST) Unit must be
strengthened, because Desertification must have an intergovernmental scientific
panel, similar to the one Climate Change has.
Fortunately
the 15th Sustainable Development Goal–that will be approved in September -
refers to the fight against desertification and establishes demanding targets
for 2020.
We
must point out that whereas the MDGs were considered a commitment of rich
countries to the poor countries, the SDGs advocate a change of economic
paradigm for all the international community. The post-2015 Agenda has a
transformative vocation. It must be equipped with effective and shared
commitments.
And
more precisely with financial commitments. The recent Conference on Financing
for Development in Addis Ababa, in the 63rd point of the conclusions mentions
desertification plainly and this is a very positive step forward.
And
we must take this step forward. And we must demand that Development Banks
incorporate ecological conditionality in their programs.
Ladies
and Gentlemen, dear Friends,
Desertification
is as grave a threat as climate change. A third of Earth's land is threatened
by desertification and drought that puts 1.2 billion people's lives at risk.
The
Earth can't stand much longer the excess of our actions. We must change our
attitudes and turn this tendency around.
China
is trying hard and the world must do the same.
And
there are four decisive words: awareness, commitment, science and first and
foremost: cooperation. Cooperation is the only path to ensure that our planet
stays the way it is: a unique and unrepeatable place.
Thank
you very much.