Photo Credit:  Kevin Pluc The federal government recently  pulled out of an important global  treaty: the  UN Convention to  Combat Desertification . It’s aimed  at fighting drought, a problem that  affects almost  30 per cent of Earth’s  land surface and threatens the  well-being of more than a billion  people worldwide, including in our  Prairie provinces.   Every year, the cumulative effects of overgrazing, over-cultivation,  deforestation,  poor irrigation and increasing extreme weather events  – including those that  cause drought – permanently degrade close to  10 million hectares  of land.  This has led to a creeping loss of places  where food can easily be grown.  

United Nations The United Nations says it's 'regrettable' that the Government of Canada is withdrawing from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) , the only legally binding instrument that addresses desertification, land degradation and drought. Details here. Related story:  Desertification Too Important For Canada To Ignore - Suzuki