Worldwide Drought Crisis: United Nations Highlights a Critical Global Emergency

At COP28, the United Nations disclosed its comprehensive study on the worldwide drought crisis, emphasizing the significant and often underestimated effects of droughts. This report showcases distressing statistics about the impact of droughts globally, affecting sectors such as agriculture, water supply, and the economy. It advocates for immediate and collaborative international efforts to enhance global drought resilience through sustainable methods and effective resource utilization.

The UNCCD, in partnership with the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), introduced the ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ at COP28.

The latest drought-related findings, assembled by the UN from research over the past two years, indicate a crisis of an unprecedented magnitude on a global level, signaling the beginning of severe consequences of human-induced droughts.

The ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ report, issued by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) during the COP28 climate discussions in the UAE, states that droughts are among the most destructive natural hazards in terms of loss of life, economic damage, and impact on various societal sectors.

Originating from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the UNCCD is one of three conventions, with the others addressing climate change (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (UN CBD).

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw remarked that unlike other disasters, droughts occur quietly, often unnoticed, and fail to elicit immediate media and political response. This silent devastation leads to a cycle of neglect, with affected communities suffering alone.

The report underscores the urgent need to address this crisis and build resilience. It notes the increasing frequency and severity of droughts, diminishing reservoir levels, declining crop yields, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of famines, calling for transformative changes.

The report serves as a critical call to action.

In the Horn of Africa, five consecutive failures of rainfall seasons have led to the region’s worst drought in 40 years, affecting countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. This has resulted in decreased agricultural productivity, food insecurity, and soaring food prices.

Key data highlights from the report include:

• 15–20% of China’s population is projected to face more frequent moderate-to-severe droughts within this century.
• An 80% increase in drought intensity in China is expected by 2100.
• In December 2022, 23 million people in the Horn of Africa were severely food insecure.
• In May 2023, 5% of the contiguous United States experienced severe to extreme drought.
• The La Plata basin of Brazil–Argentina faced its worst drought in 78 years in 2022, impacting global crop markets.
• Europe experienced its most severe drought in 500 years in 2022, affecting an area about four times larger than the average from 2000 to 2022.
• If global temperatures rise by 3°C above pre-industrial levels, 170 million people are expected to face extreme drought, 50 million more than if warming is limited to 1.5°C.

Agriculture and forests:

• 70% of cereal crops in the Mediterranean were damaged by drought between 2016 and 2018.
• South Africa lost 33% of its grazing land to drought.
• Forest losses in the Mediterranean could double or triple under 3°C warming.
• The Horn of Africa experienced its worst drought in 40 years, impacting agriculture and food security.

Water conditions:

• A 75% reduction in the cargo capacity of vessels on the Rhine in 2022 due to low river levels caused severe shipping delays.
• 5 million people in southern China were affected by record-low water levels in the Yangtze River.
• A backlog of 2,000 barges on the Mississippi River in late 2022 led to significant economic disruptions.

Social dimensions:

• 85% of people affected by droughts live in low- or middle-income countries.
• Vulnerable regions are 15 times more likely to experience fatalities from floods, droughts, and storms.
• 1.2 million people in the Central American Dry Corridor need food aid after five years of drought.

Remedies:

• Nature-based solutions could offset up to 25% of CO2 emissions.
• Replacing half of animal products with sustainable alternatives could significantly reduce the conversion of forests and natural land for agriculture.
• Micro-irrigation could reduce water waste by 20 to 50%.

The report, revealed during a high-profile event with the IDRA in Dubai, is part of UNCCD’s Land and Drought Dialogues at COP28. It emphasizes the necessity of international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and a commitment to environmental and social justice to combat this global crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Global Drought Crisis

More about Global Drought Crisis

• UN Convention to Combat Desertification
• COP28 Overview
• International Drought Resilience Alliance
• Global Drought Impact and Remedies
• Sustainable Land Management Practices
• Drought Resilience Strategies
• Climate Change and Drought Correlation
• Nature-Based Solutions for Drought
• Water Conservation Techniques
• Disaster Preparedness and Drought Management
• Global Temperature Rise and Drought Projections
• Agricultural Impact of Drought
• Drought in the Horn of Africa
• Economic Costs of Drought
• Drought and Food Security Challenges