June 5, 2026
On the occasion of World Environment Day, I would like to convey a message of solidarity, responsibility and hope to all our Member States, technical and financial partners, regional institutions, scientists and civil society actors, as well as to all those who are actively building a sustainable future.
This day reminds us of the urgent need to act in the face of accelerating environmental changes affecting our planet, and Africa in particular. Across our continent, land degradation, water scarcity and the increasing frequency of extreme climate events are placing a heavy burden on economies and on the daily lives of millions of people.
For more than three decades, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory has been transforming knowledge into action. Alongside its Member States, the OSS collects and produces reliable data, strengthens national capacities, and supports territories and communities in their adaptation efforts. We are guided by a simple conviction: without sound science and strong cooperation, no lasting solution can be achieved.
This ambition has been further strengthened by the OSS accreditations from the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund and the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, helping it support its Member States in mobilizing the resources required to implement transformative projects aligned with local realities and capable of delivering sustainable impacts.
This is a responsibility we fully embrace and a mark of confidence we are committed to honoring.
Climate, ecological and land-related crises are deeply interconnected and must be addressed collectively. This is the very essence of the synergy among the three Rio Conventions: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. With this in mind, we support the development of territorial, multisectoral and inclusive approaches that strengthen the resilience of both communities and ecosystems.
This is also the spirit of the Great Green Wall, one of the most ambitious and unifying responses to the environmental, climatic and socio-economic challenges facing the African continent. Far beyond a land restoration program, it represents a genuine integrated territorial development initiative, generating economic opportunities, enhancing food security, strengthening climate resilience and contributing to the stability of populations.
The Initiative embodies the synergy of the Rio Conventions by combining efforts to combat desertification, adapt to climate change, preserve biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of local communities. It creates economic opportunities, supports food security and provides communities with incentives to remain on and preserve their lands. While its Sahelian component remains at the heart of the Initiative, its northern and southern dimensions deserve equal attention to ensure that no arid, semi-arid or dry sub-humid region of the continent is left behind in this collective effort.
The OSS is willing to support its Member States and partners in this process by providing all the scientific expertise it has, using its capacity to mobilize climate and environmental finance, and its experience in implementing large-scale regional initiatives. Africa’s determined youth, exceptional renewable energy potential, valuable local knowledge and growing political commitment to sustainable development are all reasons for confidence.
On this World Environment Day, I call upon all our partners to renew their commitment to ambitious collective action based on regional cooperation, innovation and shared responsibility. Our environment is not only a heritage to be preserved; it is also a prerequisite for the prosperity and stability of our continent.
On this symbolic day, let us believe in our collective ability to transform challenges into opportunities and to develop solutions commensurate with the scale of the issues we face. Hope is built through action, cooperation and determination. Every hectare restored, every resource preserved, every community strengthened and every partnership forged is a legacy for future generations.
Happy World Environment Day to all.