World Environment Day is June 5.
“Everybody alive now is part of the generation that is the first to witness the devastating effects of environmental degradation.” – United Nations World Environment Day Announcement 2024
The 2024 global theme for World Environment Day is land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. The UN Environmental Programme identifies land degradation as one of the most pressing environmental crises and it currently impacts roughly 40 percent of the world’s population. Drought, desertification, alongside loss of ecosystem diversity, pollution, and climate extremes all contribute to land degradation.
While the data on land degradation, drought, and desertification looks dire, it is not hopeless. Every day, DRI scientists conduct research in pursuit of solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, including building drought resilience, protecting ecosystem diversity, slowing desertification, and supporting land restoration.
Learn more about DRI research focused on building drought resilience, slowing desertification, and furthering land restoration at the Story Map below!
