UN General Assembly Declares 2025-2034 Decade of Combating Sand Storms

The 193-member organ first adopted the draft resolution titled “United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (2025-2034)” (document A/78/L.88) without a vote, thus dedicating the 10-year period to the fight against those meteorological phenomena.  By other terms of the text, the Assembly invited the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps to plan and organize the activities of the Decade at the global, regional and country levels.  It also stressed that the cost of all activities that may arise from implementation of the resolution should be met from voluntary contributions, including from the private sector. 

The text was introduced by the representative of Uganda on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China.  He said the text recognizes that such storms are an issue of international concern, “the costs of which are measured in economic, social and environmental terms”.  They increasingly threaten achievement of 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and the resolution therefore aims to enhance international and regional cooperation to prevent, halt and mitigate their effects. 

Find the UN draft resolution here: https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2F78%2FL.88&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop

Sandstorm in Kidal, Mali
Photo:©UN Photo/Blagoje Grujic