Excellencies, Distinguished delegates

At the outlet, I would like on behalf of the G77 and China to thank the Permanent Missions of Iran, Iraq and Senegal for arranging this important event.

The G77 and China recognizes that sand and dust storms are an issue of international concern, the costs of which are measured in economic, social and environmental terms. The sand and dust storms are an increasing threat to the achievement of 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their means of implementation. According to the 2022 report of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, dust and sand storms have increased dramatically in frequency in recent years. It is estimated that 2 trillion tons of sand and dust enter the atmosphere annually. Therefore, sand and dust storms and the unsustainable land and water management, soil, agricultural and livestock practices, among other factors, can cause or exacerbate these phenomena, including climate change, posing a serious challenge to the achievement of sustainable development of affected countries and regions.

We also recognize that, in the past few years, sand and dust storms have inflicted substantial economic, social and environmental damage on the inhabitants of the world's arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid areas, especially in Africa and Asia. We also stress the importance of addressing the socioeconomic and environmental challenges of the affected countries in the context of the SDGs. We underscore the need to promptly take measures to address those challenges. We call upon the United Nations system to play its role in advancing and strengthening international cooperation and support to combat sand and dust storms. We also invite all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations and all other related organizations to integrate into their respective cooperation frameworks and operational programmes actions aimed at combating sand and dust storms. These actions should include inter alia: enhancing capacity-building at the national level; development and implementation of regional and sub-regional programmes and projects; sharing of information, best practices and experiences and transferring of technology; efforts to control and prevent the main factors of sand and dust storms; and development of early warning systems.

The Group requests the Secretary-General to further encourage the United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms to conduct its priority activities as identified by the Coalition's five working groups, which are knowledge-sharing, capacity building, training, awareness-raising, and support the formulation of national, regional and interregional plans, to mitigate sand and dust storm hazards. Furthermore, the Coalition should enhance resource mobilization efforts to increase voluntary contributions to the Coalition and its member agencies.

In conclusion, the Group welcomes the consensual adoption by General Assembly of the draft resolution submitted by the G77 and China proclaiming 2025-2034 as the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms.

I thank you.