United Nations Declares Decade to Combat Sand and Dust StormsUnited Nations Declares Decade to Combat Sand and Dust Storms The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2025 to 2034 as the United Nations Decade to Combat Sand and Dust Storms. These extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, threatening health and economies in regions from Central Africa to northern China. The resolution, introduced by the Group of 77 and China, aims to “halt and mitigate the negative effects of sand and dust storms” through international and regional cooperation. It was unanimously adopted by the 193-member assembly. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, sand and dust storms have dramatically increased in frequency in recent years. They can exacerbate respiratory diseases, kill crops and livestock, and worsen desertification. The majority of sand and dust emissions are caused by natural conditions, but droughts and climate change are exacerbating the problem. Human activities, such as unsustainable land management and water use, also contribute significantly. As part of the decade-long initiative, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization will promote mitigation practices in affected countries, including sustainable land management, agroforestry, and reforestation. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of global cooperation in improving early warning systems and sharing weather information. The resolution coincides with the International Day for Combating Sand and Dust Storms, which will be celebrated for the first time on July 12. The General Assembly has called on countries to commemorate the day with educational and other activities that raise awareness about the importance of combating these storms for public health, land use, food security, and climate resilience.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday declared 2025 to 2034 the United Nations Decade to Combat Sand and Dust Storms, extreme weather events that are increasing and threatening health and economies from Central Africa to northern China.
Uganda’s UN ambassador Godfrey Kwoba, who introduced the resolution on behalf of the Group of 77, a powerful UN group of 134 developing countries and China, told the 193-member assembly that the initiative aims to “halt and mitigate the negative effects of sand and dust storms” through “international and regional cooperation”.
The meeting adopted the resolution by unanimous vote with a bang of the meeting’s gavel, Dennis Francis.
In a 2022 report, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification said that sand and dust storms “have increased dramatically in frequency in recent years.”
The report says storms can exacerbate respiratory diseases, kill crops and livestock, and exacerbate desertification, but there is limited evidence of their impact.
According to the treaty, 2 trillion tons of sand and dust are released into the atmosphere each year, mainly in dry areas and sub-humid areas with little vegetation.
Most of the emissions are due to natural conditions, but droughts and climate change are exacerbating the problem, the report said.
The report estimates that “at least 25% of global dust emissions come from human activities” such as unsustainable land management and water use.
As part of the decade-long initiative adopted on Wednesday, the General Assembly said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization will promote mitigation practices in affected countries, including “sustainable land-use management, agroforestry, shelter belts, reforestation and land restoration programs.”
The resolution also calls for global cooperation to improve early warning systems and share weather information important for forecasting dust storms.
The resolution is being adopted two days before the International Day for Combating Sand and Dust Storms on 12 July. This day was proclaimed last year by the General Assembly and is now being celebrated for the first time.
The resolution called on countries to celebrate the day with educational and other activities that raise public awareness of the importance of combating sand and dust storms for public health, improving land use, increasing food security and livelihoods, and promoting “resilience to climate change.”
