G7 declaration recognizes land degradation and drought as global security risks

Paris: Ministers from the world’s leading economies have formally recognized desertification, land degradation and drought as major global challenges with serious security implications, following discussions at the G7 Environment Ministers’ Meeting April 2026.

In a joint declaration issued after the two-day meeting, the Group of Seven (G7) countries described these interconnected environmental crises as “systemic risks” that are already affecting ecosystems, livelihoods, and food and water security across the globe.

The ministers warned that worsening land conditions are intensifying competition over natural resources, contributing to displacement and increasing the likelihood of instability, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

Highlighting the scale of the issue, the declaration noted that up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded, impacting an estimated 3.2 billion people and costing the global economy around $900 billion annually.

It also pointed out that more than 40 per cent of intrastate conflicts over the past six decades have been linked to disputes over natural resources such as land and water.

Land degradation already affects a significant share of the world’s land—up to 40 per cent—and costs an estimated US$ 900 billion annually, with cascading impacts across food systems, water availability, economies and livelihoods. 

Welcoming the declaration, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Yasmine Fouad, said this political recognition must now translate into action, highlighting the gap between commitments and implementation. 

“Land degradation and drought are no longer marginal issues. They are already shaping the daily lives of millions of people, affecting what they can grow, what they can eat and whether they can remain on their land,” Fouad said.

“Restoring land is therefore an investment in peace, resilience and long-term stability. What is needed now is to match political attention with the financing and partnerships required to deliver results” she said.

“We are not facing a knowledge gap. We are facing an implementation gap,” she added. “Countries have already identified their priorities and targets. The challenge now is real progress on the ground.” 

The ministers called for stronger investment in land restoration, improved drought resilience, and better alignment of public and private finance. They also stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among international financial institutions to address the growing crisis.

As part of these efforts, the French Presidency announced initiatives such as the Nature & People Finance Alliance, aimed at scaling up funding for ecosystem protection and sustainable land management.

The declaration reaffirmed the central role of the UNCCD in tackling desertification and land degradation and identified the upcoming COP17 UNCCD 2026 as a key opportunity to translate political commitments into tangible outcomes.

Ministers expressed hope that the conference would deliver concrete progress, particularly for regions most vulnerable to environmental stress.