\xa0Land degradation is the human-induced loss of biodiversity, productivity, and ecosystem functions from terrestrial and aquatic environments. Land degradation is closely linked to climate change. Practices such as forest clearance and drying and burning of peatlands directly produce greenhouse gas emissions; land degradation is estimated to have been responsible for annual global emissions of 3·6–4·4 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2000–09. In turn, the effects of land degradation are exacerbated by climate change, as ecosystems alter in response to temperature changes and established management and restoration practices might no longer be viable. The combination of land degradation and climate change is predicted to reduce crop yields by 10% globally, and up to 50% in some areas. Such losses could lead to rises in migration, increasing the risk of conflict and political instability.\xa0