The Sixth IPCC Report (2022) highlights how climate change, particularly desertification, is increasingly impacting human lives by degrading fertile land, intensifying food and water insecurity, and contributing to the loss of traditional livelihoods. Desertification presents a growing global challenge, particularly in regions already vulnerable to climate stress. As these environmental pressures worsen, they influence human mobility, prompting various forms of movement such as internal displacement, seasonal migration, rural-to-urban shifts, regional and irregular migration and even involuntary immobility. Human mobility is an adaptive strategy for individuals and communities facing the threats posed by desertification. However, vulnerable groups—including women, children, Indigenous Peoples, and the elderly—face heightened risks, necessitating tailored interventions backed by sound policies, financing, and programmatic frameworks.  

This side event will convene policymakers from Guatemala and countries of the Global South, and representatives from FAO to critically examine the challenges that desertification poses to human mobility in their respective contexts. Central to the event will be the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and lessons learned in combating desertification, with a strong emphasis on fostering South-South cooperation. Country representatives will present milestones and reflect on both successes and obstacles encountered in their pursuit of Voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. Special attention will be given to initiatives such as forest recovery and governance, the promotion of sustainable agricultural and silvicultural practices to rehabilitate degraded lands, and the protection of critical watersheds. This dialogue seeks to facilitate mutual learning and deepen collaboration among nations facing similar challenges, ultimately advancing more effective strategies to address desertification and mitigate its profound impacts on human mobility.