World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought - 17th June

The United Nations announced World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in 1995 after the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was drafted.

2020 Theme: Food. Feed. Fibre. - the links between consumption and land

This year’s observance is focused on changing public attitudes to the leading driver of desertification and land degradation: humanity’s relentless production and consumption.

As populations become larger, wealthier and more urban, there is far greater demand for land to provide food, animal feed and fibre for clothing. Meanwhile, the health and productivity of existing arable land is declining, worsened by climate change.

To have enough productive land to meet the demands of ten billion people by 2050, lifestyles need to change. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought,  under the slogan “Food. Feed. Fibre.” seeks to educate individuals on how to reduce their personal impact.