Globally, more than 2 billion hectares of land are degraded – an area nearly the size of India and the Russian Federation combined. By 2030, drought, land degradation and desertification could force 135 million people to migrate as the climate crisis worsens.
This years #WorldEnvironmentDay focuses on land restoration, halting desertification and building drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.”
On this occasion, we present four inspiring contributions from the Falling Walls community:
🌳 Planting trees to fight the triple planetary crisis: Watch here -> https://bit.ly/3x4l7La
Environmentalist Otuo-Akyampong Boakye combines scientific and indigenous knowledge in a community-based approach with his "Climate Smart Tree Planting" initiative in Ghana. This project engages local communities and students to plant indigenous and fruit trees, purifying the air, sequestering carbon, creating habitats, and developing urban forests near sanitation sites. #FallingWallsEngage Winner 2023
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🤝 Lee Howell, The Villars Institute, points out the pivotal role of younger generations in driving future climate action, emphasising the necessity to shift "from ecological anxiety to ecological ambition" and more entrepreneurial spirit. Revisit the #FallingWallsCircle Plenary Table „Climate Action Future“ https://bit.ly/4c9gPBd to learn how political commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and open science can accelerate the fight against climate change and trigger a Green Renaissance.
Speakers: Frederick Fenter, Frontiers; Lee Howell, The Villars Institute; Lars Peter Riishojgaard, World Meteorological Organization; Johan Rockström, PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; Massamba Thioye UNFCCC UN
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🌍 Understanding human cost of environmental degradation: https://bit.ly/3x4l8yI
Sunil Amrith, historian and professor at Yale University, argues climate justice requires understanding migration history and colonialism's impact. #ScienceBreakthrough 2022, Social Sciences & Humanities
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🏜️ Integrated solutions for agriculture and soil sustainability in arid regions: https://bit.ly/4c6TqjD
Batool Albar, #FallingWallsLab Winner 2022, offers two solutions to combat desertification and land degradation: Sandax, a water-repellent mulch, and biochar, a nutrient-rich soil amendment. These developments improve soil quality, reduce water loss and increase the chances of plant survivability during periods of drought. In combination, these innovations can improve food production in arid regions and increase food security.
