Global Drought Crisis: Urgent Action Needed to Address Escalating Threats

The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opened on November 30 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On December 1, a "Global Drought Overview" report released by the United Nations stated that as climate change intensifies drought, countries around the world must invest in early warning systems and water conservation measures.

The report was jointly prepared by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the International Alliance for Drought Control. It points out that droughts are increasing in frequency and severity around the world, representing an unprecedented global emergency. Yet the progressive “silent damage” caused by drought is often ignored by the media and governments. By 2050, three-quarters of the world's population may be affected by drought.

In fact, droughts have killed at least 650,000 people over the past half-century. Droughts cause billions of dollars in economic damage each year. This year, 14% of the United States has suffered severe extreme drought; the heart of the Amazon rainforest has experienced the least rainfall in 40 years, with river levels hitting record lows; India has experienced its driest August in a century, driving global sugar and wheat prices up; the Panama Canal had to reduce shipping by 1/3 due to water shortage.

The International Drought Alliance is an alliance of 34 countries established at COP27 last year. It calls for more investment in drought preparedness, from early warning systems to rainwater harvesting ponds.

The first challenge is predicting drought. A United Nations plan aims to install extreme weather warning systems around the world by 2027. In the Horn of Africa, scientists can now predict drought conditions eight months into the future by looking at temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

The second step is to collect and conserve water. Restoring degraded ecosystems helps conserve moisture, and switching to more drought-tolerant crops and efficient irrigation makes agriculture more sustainable.