The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) was adopted in Paris on 17 June 1994 and opened for signature in October of the same year. This act marked the culmination of nearly two years of negotiations conducted by an Intergovernmental Committee established by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 47/188, adopted in December 1992 in accordance with the wishes expressed in this regard by the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.