On Monday 14 October, the EU Council adopted conclusions on the challenges posed by desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD). In view of the increasing number of droughts and the seriousness of desertification and land degradation, the EU Council is asking the European Commission to propose a European action plan.
As well as strengthening resilience to drought, Member States want to achieve neutrality in terms of land degradation by 2030. The EU Council also emphasised the importance of regenerative land management and governance. The transformation of agricultural and food systems to make them sustainable, drought-resistant and able to adapt to the climate is also given as an example. The EU Council has based these transformations on the 13 principles of agroecology as defined by the United Nations (UN) with regard to food and agriculture.
In addition, the Council of the EU is quick to note its support for existing strategies and legislation, such as the regulation on nature restoration; it also highlights the link between land and water management.
The EU Council is of the opinion that a European action plan such as this would require funding. A review of existing funding instruments and the exploration of both private and public sources are needed in order to support land management and restoration.
The EU Council said there are many opportunities to respond to desertification, land degradation and drought, noting COP16 and the work on biodiversity in Colombia, COP29 in Azerbaijan and the 16th session of the United Nations Convention to combat desertification. The EU Council also stated that links between these three events and their objectives should be improved.
See the EU Council’s conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/dvu (Original version in French by Florent Servia)