On the margins of the Summit of Heads of State, 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Heads of State signed a commitment to combat desertification and drought. This is a call to action that comes in response to a stark warning from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) that up to 40% of all ice-free land is already degraded, with disastrous consequences for climate, biodiversity and livelihoods.

The Heads of State and Government meeting on 9 May in Abidjan called on the international community to take urgent action to "stem the loss of life and livelihoods in the world as a result of the growing and devastating effects of the de-france certification, soil degradation and drought". According to the final communiqué, the Summit concluded with the adoption of the "Abidjan Call", which urges the highest priority to be given to the issue of drought and reinforces the commitment to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.