29 October 2008: Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) told a news conference at UN
Headquarters, NY, US, that “the nexus between land degradation and climate
change is clear,” with global warming being likely to lead to more extreme
weather events, which could lead to soil erosion and loss of land cover.

He
highlighted that soil offers an opportunity to solve “most of the ongoing
global crises.” Gnacadja said that, but looking at the untapped potential of the
soil to sequester carbon, we not only can address climate change but we also
“are improving biodiversity of the soil ecosystem and improving the
productivity of the soil, therefore impacting the livelihoods of affected
populations.” [UN
News Release]