Côte d’Ivoire hosts UN Conference against desertification

The 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) entitled "Land. Life. Legacy: from scarcity to prosperity" is underway in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). The summit, which started on 9 May and will last until 20 May, is attended by delegations from over 190 countries and international organisations, along with scientists, stakeholders from the private sector and the industry and representatives of the press.

The Conference opened with a Summit of Heads of State and Government, convened by the President of Côte d'Ivoire. Italy is participating with a delegation consisting of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Ecological Transition Ministry, the Superior Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), led by the National Focal Point, Min. Plen. Roberto Natali.

The regeneration of degraded areas, the circular economy, gender issues, migration and youth empowerment are some of the key items on the agenda of the Conference, which is to take decisions that will urge governments to adopt appropriate territory-related policies while ensuring sustainability. Italy's commitment to combating desertification and degradation was illustrated by the Italian Head of Delegation, with reference to the involvement of young people in the interactive dialogue on 'Regenerating the Earth: the role of young people in shaping the agenda for a sustainable Earth'.

Italy then presented the project "Creating Lands of Opportunity: Transforming Livelihoods through Landscape Restoration in the Sahel", funded by the Ecological Transition Ministry at UNCCD and implemented through IUCN. The project is significantly contributing to counter desertification and regenerate degraded lands in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger, while also giving local communities the opportunity to start working activities in the agricultural sector, specifically focusing on young people and women.