While climate change has finally won the attention of world leaders, the United Nations is concerned about a lack of action on another major — and yet interlinked — global challenge: land degradation and desertification.
A deteriorated atmosphere destroys land potential through drought, flooding and other harmful phenomena. And when the land is degraded, it emits more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which in turn worsen climate change.
"We have created a vicious cycle," said Luc Gnacadja, executive secretary of the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification, or the UNCCD.