Panama to host UN Meet on desertification, land degradation & drought

Panama will host one of the most important global gatherings on land and climate issues when the 23rd session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC23) convenes in Panama City from 1–5 December 2025.According to information,representatives from 196 countries and the European Union are expected to attend the meeting, organized under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) – the only legally binding international treaty addressing desertification, land degradation and drought. The event will bring together around 500 delegates from governments, civil society, and academia to assess progress in advancing the Convention’s objectives and to shape the path forward.Panama, a signatory to UNCCD since 1996, has pledged to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030. The country has identified 31 critical hotspots, is advancing large-scale reforestation efforts, and is implementing adaptation programmes in the Dry Corridor, positioning itself as a regional leader. In 2023, Panama experienced its driest year on record, with severe water shortages disrupting traffic through the Panama Canal – underscoring how local droughts can trigger global economic consequences.“Severe droughts and the loss of fertile land are already straining food and energy production, uprooting rural communities, and threatening the livelihoods of millions,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad. “By hosting CRIC23, Panama is placing itself at the center of the global response, from its Nature Pledge to the regional Dry Corridor Initiative, and helping to build momentum for urgent land restoration and drought resilience.”This year’s session will place particular emphasis on gender equality, recognizing that women are among the hardest hit by land degradation and drought, while also being at the forefront of sustaining households and communities.
Recent UNCCD data underline the urgency of action: the world loses nearly 100 million hectares of healthy land each year, and over 70 per cent of global land area has experienced increased aridity in the past three decades. Meeting restoration targets requires investments of around USD 1 billion daily until 2030 – a fraction of what is currently allocated to harmful incentives.CRIC23 will take place at the Panama Convention Center and will review progress, set recommendations to meet the 2030 global targets, and discuss a post-2030 strategic framework. Delegates will also engage with women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities – key stakeholders in building sustainable land use solutions.The CRIC23 emblem, inspired by the Dove flower (Peristeria elata), Panama’s national flower, symbolizes peace, unity, and resilience. The design reflects Panama’s Nature Pledge, which integrates commitments on land, climate, and biodiversity into a single vision for a sustainable future.

(Asstt. Editor)