Sand and Dust Storms on Theme Working Across Agendas for Resilience and Sustainability
Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
General Assembly, United Nations HQ
New York, July 10th, 2025
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I deliver this statement on behalf of the President of the General Assembly. I quote: “I am honoured to convene this high-level meeting on sand and dust storms.
These extreme weather events are not local anomalies.
Sand and dust storms are fast becoming one of the most overlooked, yet far-reaching, global challenges of our time. They are driven by climate change, land degradation, and unsustainable practices. They span borders, agendas and generations. And they affect no fewer than 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Airborne particulates from these storms contribute to 7 million premature deaths each year, a staggering human toll.
They are a trigger for respiratory and cardiovascular disease, particularly among the most vulnerable. In agriculture, dust storms can reduce crop yields by up to 25 percent, pushing rural communities toward hunger and migration. Global welfare losses are equally concerning. In the Middle East and North Africa, losses account for 2.5 percent of regional gross domestic product.
We must take decisive action to reverse these trends. And we must do so together. Integrated, science-based measures offer our best defense against these extreme events. We know that drought resilience, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture are all proven measures to reduce storm sources. We know that early-warning and forecasting systems when linked to community response can save lives and cut costs dramatically. We must invest in these life saving measures.
It is equally important to strengthen data-sharing and capacity building through the United Nations Coalition on Sand and Dust Storms.
Excellencies, We stand at the threshold of opportunity. The United Nations Decade on Sand and Dust Storms offers a platform to align our global actions with sustainable development. It bridges agendas on health, climate resilience, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction.
And it provides an integrated framework for international cooperation, policy dialogue and partnerships. Once launched, I call on Member States, relevant stakeholders, international financial institutions and the private sector to scale up financial contributions and technological support. These efforts will be critical for Western Asia and Africa, which endure the most severe impacts of sand and dust storms yet have the least capacity to respond.
Excellencies, Let this meeting be a turning point marking our shift from awareness to action. From fragmentation to coordination. Sand and dust storms demand the same urgency and unity as we bring to other global crises. With cooperation, science and solidarity, we can protect lives, restore ecosystems and build resilience, where it is needed most. Together, let us take action that delivers clean air, healthy soils, and sustainable futures for everyone, everywhere. 8 Thank you.” End quote.