Home / Environment / Grasslands Overlooked in Climate Talks: UN Declares 2026 Year
Grasslands Overlooked in Climate Talks: UN Declares 2026 Year
7 Jan
Summary
- UN designates 2026 as International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists.
- Scientists urge climate talks to include savannas and grasslands.
- Brazil's COP30 focused on forests, neglecting other vital biomes.
The United Nations has officially proclaimed 2026 as the 'International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists,' aiming to draw attention to ecosystems often marginalized in climate discussions. Scientists previously urged the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) to expand its focus beyond forests to encompass all Earth's biomes, particularly grasslands and savannas, which are significant carbon sinks.
Despite these appeals, climate summits, including COP30 held in Belém, Brazil, have predominantly centered on forests, overlooking other critical environments. The COP30's focus on forests, while important, highlighted a global agenda that continues to favor one biome over many others facing similar existential threats from climate change and biodiversity loss.
Efforts are underway to bridge this gap, with organizations and indigenous communities advocating for grasslands. Initiatives like the Indigenous Desert Alliance in Australia and advocacy surrounding Brazil's Cerrado are bringing these issues to the forefront, emphasizing that protecting grasslands is crucial for both biodiversity and climate action, and is also a matter of social justice.
