Three quarters of Earth's land permanently drier over past 30 years warns UN

Three quarters of Earth's land permanently drier over past 30 years warns UN
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 10, 2024

A new report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reveals that 77.6% of Earth's land has experienced permanent drying over the last three decades, with drylands expanding by 4.3 million km, an area nearly one-third larger than India. These changes pose significant threats to ecosystems, agriculture, and human livelihoods.

The findings, based on global aridity index data, indicate that nearly 40.6% of the planet's land area (excluding Antarctica) now falls within dryland classifications. These changes are largely attributed to human-driven climate change, which alters rainfall patterns and accelerates evaporation.

"The aridity crisis has been documented with scientific clarity, revealing an existential threat affecting billions around the globe," stated Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary. He emphasized that while droughts are temporary, aridity represents an irreversible transformation of climates and ecosystems.

Key Findings and Impact

The report, "The Global Threat of Drying Lands," launched at the UNCCD's COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, identifies aridification hotspots, including nearly all of Europe (95.9%), parts of the western United States, Brazil, and central Africa. In high-emission scenarios, drylands are forecast to expand further, impacting regions like the Midwest United States, southern Africa, and southern Australia.

For the 2.3 billion people already living in drylands, the consequences include diminished agricultural productivity, water scarcity, and increased migration. Projections suggest that by the century's end, up to 5 billion people could be living in arid conditions, with severe implications for global poverty, health, and biodiversity.

Recommendations for Action

The UNCCD report emphasizes several strategies for addressing aridity:

- Enhanced Monitoring: Integrate aridity metrics into drought monitoring systems and use tools like the Aridity Visual Information Tool for early detection and response.

- Sustainable Land Use: Implement land management practices that prioritize resilience, involving local and Indigenous communities in restoration efforts like the Great Green Wall in Africa.

- Water Efficiency: Promote technologies such as rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling to optimize water use in affected regions.

- Community Resilience: Build local capacities through education, financial support, and climate-adaptive agricultural practices.

- International Cooperation: Align policies with frameworks like the UNCCD's Land Degradation Neutrality initiative to ensure cohesive global responses.

The report underscores the need for urgent, coordinated action to address the escalating threat of aridity, which is transforming the planet's landscapes and jeopardizing the well-being of billions.

Research Report:The Global Threat of Drying Lands