A UN report claims that over 75 percent of the Earth’s land has become “permanently drier” in the last 30 years, affecting 40 percent of land and potentially impacting five billion people by 2100. The findings were released during the ongoing Cop16 discussions in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the urgent need for action on desertification amid climate change.
A recent United Nations report reveals that over 75 percent of the world’s land has become “permanently drier” over the last three decades. This alarming finding corresponds with the ongoing Cop16 discussions on desertification taking place in Saudi Arabia. The study conducted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) highlights that dry land now encompasses approximately 40 percent of the Earth’s land mass, impacting an estimated five billion people by the year 2100.
The report indicates that from 1990 to 2020, the extent of dry land increased by 4.3 million square kilometers—a vast area comparable to one-third the size of India. Moreover, aridity, characterized by chronic water scarcity, now affects over 40.6 percent of the Earth’s land surface, significantly up from 37.5 percent 30 years ago. This deterioration is particularly pronounced in regions bordering the Mediterranean, Southern Africa, Southern Australia, and specific areas in Asia and Latin America.
Ibrahim Thiaw, the Executive Secretary of UNCCD, emphasized that the aridity crisis represents a permanent and irreversible shift in global climate patterns, saying, “The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.” The report attributes these alterations primarily to global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions, which both disrupt rainfall patterns and escalate evaporation rates.
In light of these findings, experts are calling for countries to adopt proactive strategies to address the challenges posed by desertification. Jean-Luc Chotte, president of the French Scientific Committee on Desertification, asserted that the insights gained from this report will aid nations in planning for the long-term implications of aridity. He notes the vital need for adaptive agricultural practices that consider the evolving nature of the earth’s ecosystems.
The repercussions of chronic water shortages are profound, contributing to soil degradation, ecological collapse, food insecurity, and increased forced migration. Currently, approximately 2.3 billion individuals reside in areas vulnerable to expansion into arid land, with projections indicating a potential rise to five billion under worsening conditions. UN officials advocate for enhanced drought monitoring systems, improved management of soil and water resources, and efforts to bolster the resilience of communities at risk.
The article addresses the findings of a study conducted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which underscores the significant increase in global aridity and its implications for human populations and ecosystems. As climate change exacerbates conditions leading to permanent land dryness, this report adds urgency to the discussions at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (Cop16) focused on combating desertification. It elucidates the heightened risks faced by various regions worldwide, particularly those already prone to water scarcity and agricultural difficulties.
The UN report serves as a critical alert regarding the escalating crisis of permanent aridity affecting more than 75 percent of the planet’s land. Its findings underscore the immediate need for global action to combat land degradation, with a focus on enhancing resilience in vulnerable regions. As dry land expands and challenges continue to mount due to climate change, proactive measures are essential to mitigate the multifaceted effects of this environmental crisis.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
