International Drought Resilience Alliance Rolled Out at COP27

On Monday, leaders from over 50 countries and organisations established the International Drought Resilience Alliance at the ongoing COP27 to help countries prepare for future droughts.

According to a statement issued by the alliance, it was initiated by Senegal and Spain as a specific UN solution to the effects of climate change.

"The mission of the alliance is to give political impetus to increase the land's resilience to drought and climate change," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Senegal's President Macky Sall jointly declared on Monday.

"Drought is a natural hazard but does not have to lead to human disaster. The solutions are available, and we can create a drought-resilient world by increasing our ambition, harnessing the political will, and joining forces to act together," said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

According to the statement, new political commitments will boost the alliance, including a 5-million-euro ($5.01 million) seed fund committed by Spain to support its activities and catalyse a process to generate more resources for this agenda.

The Alliance urges governments to prioritise drought resilience in national development and collaboration, including increased engagement of stakeholders such as the private sector.

According to the statement, its aims include fostering the consolidation of regional projects as well as accelerating the exchange of innovation, technology transfer, and resource mobilisation.

The alliance will also work with other platforms, such as the initiative started by the UN secretary-general and the World Meteorological Organisation, to make early warning systems and regional initiatives available to everyone and get the most out of working together to make people more resistant to drought.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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