Land degradation is likely to pose a threat to food security if nothing is done to address the situation.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report of 2024 indicates that between 20 and 40 percent of the world's land is already degraded, nearly affecting half of the global population.
Land degradation, which includes soil erosion, waterlogging, salinisation, and desertification, reduces the capacity to produce agricultural goods.
This can lead to decreased crop yields and eventually affect food security.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC report says there is dangerous disruption across the natural world as animal species migrate in search of better habitat conditions.
In a speech delivered on her behalf at the commemoration of Environment Day at Swakopmund, Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel stated that a lack of addressing climate change will hit indigenous peoples and local communities harder.
"The world is experiencing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, which is threatening to pull the very rug out from under the Sustainable Development Goals – and with it whip away our aspirations to end hunger and poverty, deliver peace and equity, and live in harmony with the natural world."
The governor of Erongo, Neville Andre, urged young people to protect and preserve the environment for the future.
His speech was delivered by the Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council, Florian Donatus.
"Let us not wait for clean-up campaigns to clean our surroundings; let us start today to dedicate our time and efforts to a cleaner and safer Earth for generations to come. I am challenging all local authorities within the Erongo Region to have competitions where they award the cleanest locations and streets with awards that will encourage everyone to acknowledge that they are champions for a safer environment and encourage the other regions and towns to emulate this project, making Namibia safer and cleaner."