A groundbreaking report released during COP16 in Riyadh has revealed that over 75% of the world's land has become permanently drier in the past three decades. This alarming shift affects approximately 40% of the Earth's land mass, excluding Antarctica, and poses a significant threat to up to five billion people by the end of the century.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) study highlights that 77.6% of Earth's land experienced drier conditions from 1990 to 2020 compared to the previous 30 years. This increase in aridity, which now covers 40.6% of the land mass, represents an existential threat, making agriculture increasingly difficult and expanding dry regions by 4.3 million square kilometers.
\"Unlike droughts—temporary periods of low rainfall—aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,\" stated Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary. He emphasized that these drier climates will not revert to previous conditions, fundamentally changing life on Earth.
The report attributes these changes to global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions, which disrupt rainfall patterns and heighten evaporation rates. Barron Orr, lead UNCCD Chief Scientist, warned that burning fossil fuels is causing permanent drying across much of the world, potentially leading to catastrophic impacts on water access and pushing both people and nature closer to tipping points.
The consequences of chronic water shortages include soil degradation, ecosystem collapse, food insecurity, and forced migration. Currently, 2.3 billion people reside in expanding dry areas, with projections indicating that this number could reach five billion as the planet continues to warm.
To combat this dire trend, scientists are urging global leaders to integrate aridity metrics into existing drought monitoring systems, enhance soil and water management practices, and build resilience in vulnerable communities. These measures are essential to mitigate the far-reaching effects of increasing aridity and ensure a sustainable future for billions worldwide.
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COP16 report warns three-quarters of global land 'permanently drier'
cgtn.com
