In an article on The Conversation website, Susan Ann Samuel, Postdoctoral Researcher, International Climate Politics, University of Leeds, discusses failure of international politics to keep pace with a problem that is already affecting virtually every part of the world. Climate, biodiversity and land degradation are treated institutionally as separate problems when, physically, they are deeply interconnected.
Why the world can’t agree how to tackle drought
Delegates from 196 nations plus EU officials have met in Mongolia to discuss how best to tackle drought and desertification.
Often overlooked by the larger and busier climate summits, this small UN desertification summit, known as Cop17, felt more important than ever. Yet countries still could not agree on what needs to be done.
Negotiations that were often inconclusive and frustrating continued until 4am on some nights. The closing plenary was gavelled to a conclusion on August 29 at 2.36am.
The issue of drought split the negotiation room from the start. On behalf of the African Group and Togo, South Africa pushed a legally binding global drought protocol. The UK, Australia and Cook Islands rejected a binding instrument. India ...