Policy Brief - Science as a common ground in an era of disruption

Land degradation and desertification are accelerating globally, while droughts are becoming more frequent and severe. Along with other human-induced pressures, they are increasingly undermining food security, biodiversity, water resources, climate resilience, and social stability. At the same time, the international landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented, marked by geopolitical tensions, technological disruption, growing inequalities, and declining trust in multilateral cooperation. Recent foresight analyses, such as Navigating New Horizons, highlight that global governance is entering a period of systemic turmoil, deep uncertainty, and interdependent environmental, technological, and geopolitical risks. Ecological tipping points, rapid technological change, and social fragmentation are reshaping the foundations of international cooperation.

In this context, achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) requires more than robust scientific evidence, demanding mechanisms capable of sustaining dialogue, trust, and collective action despite uncertainty and fragmentation.