EARTH ON THE EDGE

A Potsdam report released during the ongoing UNCCD conference in Saudi Arabia says six of the nine planetary boundaries have been breached. The planetary boundaries framework, a scientific model introduced in 2009, defines thresholds that, if crossed, can destabilise the Earth system

- V KRISHNA CHAITANYA @Chennai

degradation cost the global economy between $6.3 and $10.6 trillion annually. This reflects the diminished capacity of degraded lands to support biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and act as carbon sinks.

The transformation of savannas, grasslands, and drylands into barren landscapes not only exacerbates the biodiversity crisis but also heightens the risks of climate-induced tipping points.

"If we fail to acknowledge the pivotal role of land and take appropriate action, the consequences will ripple through every aspect of life and extend well into the future, intensifying difficulties for future generations," said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw.

Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said degraded land is not just an environmental issue, but a direct economic and social crisis.