UN Report: Climate Change Causing Irreversible Drying of Land
A UNCCD report reveals that 77.6% of Earth’s land has become drier from 1990 to 2020, with drylands expanding significantly. The findings emphasize the severe impact of climate change and the urgent need for international cooperation to address this environmental crisis, which threatens human well-being and agricultural systems worldwide.
A recent analysis from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reveals alarming trends regarding global land aridity. From 1990 to 2020, a staggering 77.6% of the Earth’s land has exhibited increased dryness compared to the prior thirty years. This phenomenon has resulted in the expansion of drylands by approximately 4.3 million square kilometers, an expanse larger than India, now encompassing over 40% of the Earth’s landmass exclusive of Antarctica. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, this trend is anticipated to worsen.
The report, aptly titled “The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and Global Aridity Trends and Future Projections,” was presented at the UNCCD’s 16th conference, marking its first occurrence in the Middle East, specifically in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The findings indicate that many recently converted drylands once thrived as humid environments, highlighting the severe impact of climate change on agricultural productivity, ecosystems, and human communities.
Aridity has emerged as a principal factor undermining agricultural systems worldwide, affecting around 40% of arable land. In Africa alone, it is estimated that rising aridity has contributed to a 12% decline in GDP from 1990 to 2015, emphasizing its significant economic implications. Ibrahim Thiaw, the UNCCD Executive Secretary, stated, “This analysis finally dispels an uncertainty that has long surrounded global drying trends…revealing an existential threat affecting billions around the globe.”
Distinguishing between aridity and temporary droughts, Mr. Thiaw clarified that while droughts can end, increasing aridity marks a permanent shift in climate conditions that erases the possibility of returning to pre-existing climates. Consequently, vast regions worldwide are experiencing unprecedented dryness, with new data highlighting that human-induced climate change is a major driver of this crisis, altering rainfall patterns and subsequently impacting plant life.
Despite witnessing more frequent storms and floods globally, regions such as Europe, where 95.9% of land faces aridity threats, exhibit a stark contrast to other areas. The UNCCD has classified the western United States, Brazil, central Africa, and eastern Asia as high-risk zones for aridification. The report notably identified South Sudan and Tanzania as nations experiencing the highest percentage of land transitioning to dry conditions, while China leads in the total area becoming arid.
Currently, 2.3 billion individuals reside within these expanding drylands, representing over a quarter of the global population. The degradation of land due to aridity presents a dire threat to agriculture and overall human well-being. Projections estimate that by 2100, up to 5 billion people may live in drylands under worst-case scenarios, facing challenges such as infertility of soils and diminishing water resources, which could drive increased migration, particularly in regions like the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
In response to the aridification threat, the UNCCD recommends strategies that go beyond merely reducing carbon emissions, suggesting enhanced monitoring of aridity conditions, sustainable land use practices in vulnerable areas, investments in water efficiency, and fostering international cooperation. Nicole Barger, Chair of the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface, asserted, “Without concerted efforts, billions face a future marked by hunger, displacement, and economic decline…the question is not whether we have the tools to respond—it is whether we have the will to act.”
The issue of increasing land aridity due to climate change has gained significant attention, as it poses severe risks to agriculture, ecosystems, and human populations. The UNCCD’s analysis serves to highlight the dramatic changes affecting global land use and agriculture, necessitating immediate and concerted international efforts to combat these trends. The findings underscore the broader implications of climate change, revealing its capacity to permanently transform landscapes and disrupt human livelihoods across vast regions.
In conclusion, the UNCCD’s assessment provides a sobering outlook on the impact of climate change on global land aridity, emphasizing the urgent need for effective mitigation strategies. With over 2.3 billion people currently residing in expanding drylands and projections warning of even greater numbers in the future, the implications for food security, economic stability, and human migration cannot be overstated. A united global effort is crucial in addressing this existential threat before it escalates further.
Original Source: impakter.com
