21 December 2012: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution on the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), forwarded for consideration by its Second Committee (Economic and Financial) at the conclusion of its session in December.

The UNGA resolution on “Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa” (A/RES/67/211) calls on member States to take urgent action to reduce desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD), and on the UNCCD to enhance its implementation by mobilizing adequate, predictable and timely financial resources. It also, inter alia: encourages giving appropriate consideration to DLDD issues in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda; takes note of the COP 10 decision to establish an ad hoc working group to discuss options for the provision of scientific advice to the UNCCD parties; and reiterates its invitation to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in further enhancing resource allocation during future replenishments, to consider increasing allocations to the land degradation focal area, depending on the availability of resources; [UN Meeting Summary] [List of Resolutions in UN General Assembly] [IISD RS Story on Second Committee Approval][UNCCD Press Report on the UNGA Resolution]