Combating sand and dust storms A/RES/74/226 2013 on the margins of the twenty-seventh session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recalling the Sendai Declaration and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 69/283 of 3 June 2015, and recognizing that one of the priorities for action of the Framework is an understanding of disaster risk for prevention and mitigation and for the development and implementation of appropriate preparedness and effective response to disasters, which continue to undermine efforts to achieve sustainable development, Acknowledging that, based on the notion of hazards as defined in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, 8 addressing multidimensional hazards, including those posed by sand and dust storms, contributes towards the achievement of the goals, targets and priorities for action set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, Stressing the need for cooperation at the global and regional levels with a view to managing and mitigating the effects of sand and dust storms through the enhancement of early warning systems and the sharing of climate and weather information to forecast sand and dust storms, and affirming that resilient action to combat sand and dust storms requires a better understanding of the severe multidimensional impacts of sand and dust storms, including the deterioration of the health, well-being and livelihood of people, increased desertification and land degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and land productivity, and their impact on sustainable economic growth, Emphasizing the relevance of the efforts and cooperation of Member States at the regional and international levels to control and reduce the negative impacts of sand and dust storms on human settlements in vulnerable regions, taking note of the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in hosting a regional meeting of environment ministers in Tehran on 29 September 2010, welcoming the holding of other meetings with the active participation of all countries, and taking note with appreciation of other ongoing initiatives by various countries to combat sand and dust storms, especially at the regional level, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 9 2. Recognizes that sand and dust storms and the unsustainable land management practices, among other factors, that can cause or exacerbate these phenomena, including climate change, pose a serious challenge to the sustainable development of affected countries and regions, also recognizes that, in the past few years, sand and dust storms have inflicted substantial economic, social and environmental damage on the inhabitants of the world ’s arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid areas, especially in Africa and Asia, and underscores the need to treat them and to promptly take measures to address those challenges; 3. Recalls the convening of a high-level interactive dialogue on sand and dust storms, held at Headquarters in New York on 16 July 2018, bringing together Member States, observer States and observers of the General Assembly, United Nations system entities, regional commissions and other stakeholders to discuss action -oriented recommendations and address the challenges faced by the affected countries, including ways to improve policy coordination at the global level to tackle those __________________ 8 9 19-22495 A/CONF.206/6 and A/CONF.206/6/Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2. A/74/263. 3/5