Abidjan, Paris – September 11, 2023 – Today, COP15 – United Nations convention to combat desertification – and ChangeNOW officially sealed a partnership, marking a key moment in the global fight against desertification, for the preservation of the environment and building of a more sustainable future.

The climate crisis and environmental degradation are unprecedented challenges for humanity. Desertification is progressing all over the world: according to the UN, every year, 12 million hectares of land are cleared, causing food insecurity in affected regions. Projections for 2050 predict up to 1 billion hectares of cleared land worldwide.
Today, a large part of the African continent is on the front line of desertification.

The historic alliance between COP15 and ChangeNOW marks a unique convergence between international diplomacy and citizen innovation. By joining forces, the two entities are committed to achieving the ambitious goals of international agreements and translating innovative ideas into concrete action on the ground.

The areas of cooperation of this new alliance against desertification are as follows:

• Knowledge exchange and capacity building ;
• Research and innovation ;
• Advocacy and awareness-raising;
• Organization of international events related to the ecological transition.