The world is facing an unprecedented drought crisis, according to a newly released report by the United Nations. The report, titled “Global Drought Snapshot,” paints a sobering picture of a planet grappling with severe water scarcity and its cascading consequences.
Key findings from the report include:
- Record-breaking severity: Droughts are currently affecting 630,000 square kilometers in Europe, an area roughly four times the average affected area between 2000 and 2022.
- Global impact: Asia, particularly China and the Horn of Africa, are experiencing some of the worst droughts in recent history.
- Disproportionate burden: Up to 85% of people affected by droughts reside in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the inequitable distribution of climate change impacts.
- Human-induced: The report underscores the role of human activities, including greenhouse gas emissions and unsustainable water management practices, in exacerbating the drought crisis.
- Economic losses: Droughts are causing massive economic losses across the globe, exceeding the impact of any other climate pattern.
- Humanitarian crisis: The report warns that rising temperatures could lead to 170 million people facing extreme drought if global temperatures reach 3°C above pre-industrial levels, posing a significant humanitarian crisis.