Secretary-General Hails Launch of Global Dryland Alliance as Effort to Address Land Degradation, Linked Challenges of Food, Energy Security

(Delayed for technical reasons.)

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the launch of the Global Dryland Alliance in Doha, 14 October:

I am pleased to send greetings to the launch of the Global Dryland Alliance.

Viable drylands are integral to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.  Some 3 billion of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people live in drylands.

Enabling these fragile areas to provide for their populations requires integrated strategies backed up by innovation and technology.  I am therefore encouraged by this new international effort designed to address the interlinked challenges of land degradation and water, food and energy security.

I commend the members of the Global Dryland Alliance for your commitment.  I wish your initiative every success.