Desertification and Drought Day (UNCCD)

The United Nations’ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is annually observed on June 17 to highlight the urgent need to curb the desertification process. It also aims to strengthen the visibility of the drylands issue on the international environmental agenda.

Background

In December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17 the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The assembly acknowledged that desertification and drought were global problems because they affected all regions of the world. The assembly also realized that joint action by the international community was needed to combat desertification and drought, particularly in Africa.

Desertification and Drought Day was officially declared by the UN General Assembly as “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought” (Resolution A/RES/49/115). Since 2019, it has been known simply as Desertification and Drought Day and is observed on 17 June to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.

Each year, a country is selected to host global celebrations for Desertification and Drought Day. The host country works with the UNCCD Secretariat to organize a programme of activities aimed at policymakers, other key stakeholders and the public at large in support of the Day’s objectives. In addition to the main global observance event, countries and communities around the world organize activities to mark Desertification and Drought Day.

Previous global Desertification and Drought Day celebrations took place in Germany (2024), USA (2023), Spain (2022), Costa Rica (2021), Republic of Korea (2020), Türkiye (2019), Ecuador (2018) and Burkina Faso (2017).

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