The UN Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms chaired by the FAO Land and Water Division will organize the UNFCCC pre-COP26 side event titled “Sand and Dust Storms: A critical climate adaptation issue” virtually on 30 September 2021 from 10:00 to 11:00 CEST.

Climate change will increase frequency and severity of Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), intensifying transboundary impacts. During this session, Representatives from countries, the United Nations and research bodies will share how SDS impact people, economy and environment; and SDS risk reduction and adaptation measures. Avoiding future impacts needs global, regional and national action.

Registration is needed to attend the online event. Once you have registered, you will receive the zoom link to access the event.

Please register HERE.

AGENDA

Moderator: Feras Ziadat, Technical Officer, Land and Water Division, FAO & Chair, UN Coalition on Combating SDS

10:00 - 10:10

Welcome, Lifeng Li, Director, Land and Water Division, FAO

Introduction to Sand and Dust Storms (SDS): impacts and linkages with climate change, Nick Middleton, SDS Expert, FAO

10:10 - 10:25

Countries' experiences on the adverse impacts of SDS on people, economy and the environment, and links to climate change:  

• Enkh Amgalan, Director Center for Policy Research, Mongolia
• Wang Tao, Former President, Lanzhou Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Mabel Okiriguo-Emmanuel, UNCCD NFP, Director for Drought and Desertification Amelioration, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria 

10:25 - 10:30

Good practices to help mitigate/adapt to SDS sources and impacts on agriculture, Stefan Strohmeier, Associate Scientist, International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)

10:30 - 10:45

Examples of the work carried out by UN Agency members of the UN SDS Coalition related to SDS in different sectors and the impact of climate change:

• Utchang Kang, Programme Officer, UNCCD - SDS policy development
• Alexander Baklanov, Scientific Officer, WMO - WMO - SDS Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS)
• Letizia Rossano, Director, APDIM, ESCAP - SDS Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific

10:45 - 10:55

Q&A session

10:55 - 11:00

Closing remarks, Feras Ziadat