US$44 trillion, roughly half of global GDP, is being put at risk by the loss of finite natural capital, caused by mismanagement of soil, water and biodiversity resources, according to a new report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The second edition of the Global Land Outlook says US$1.6 trillion is needed to meet government pledges to restore one billion degraded hectares by 2030, a fraction of the annual US$700 billion in fossil fuel and agricultural subsidies. It also says the economic returns of restoring land and reducing degradation, GHG emissions and biodiversity loss could be as high as US$125-140 trillion every year. “Restoring land, soils, forests and other ecosystems would contribute more than one-third of the cost-effective climate change mitigation needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C,” it added, while also supporting other sustainable development goals. The UNCCD report analyses three scenarios through to 2050 and assesses the potential impacts of land restoration investments.
🚨 BREAKING: #GlobalLandOutlook 2nd Edition is OUT
With up to 40 % of the planet’s land degraded, desertification affects 1/2 of humanity and threatens about 1/2 of global GDP.
Restoring land = restoring economies, communities and #climate!
📍https://t.co/NPzPp8AjUo pic.twitter.com/VdUkyODoL5
— UN Convention to Combat Desertification (@UNCCD) April 27, 2022
