A recent report by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reveals a troubling shift in the global climate: over 77% of Earth’s land has experienced drier conditions over the past 30 years compared to the previous three decades. This has led to a dramatic expansion of global drylands by about 4.3 million square kilometers, covering more than 40% of Earth’s surface.
If greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed, the situation could worsen, with another 3% of humid areas transforming into drylands by the century’s end. The human impact is severe, with the number of people living in these drylands doubling to 2.3 billion and projections indicating 5 billion by 2100 under worst-case scenarios.
Expansion of Drylands: A Global Crisis
Drylands have expanded by approximately 4.3 million square kilometers, an area nearly one-third the size of India. This increase has drastically altered the global landscape, pushing drylands to cover over 40% of the Earth’s surface.
Rising Threat to Populations
Currently, 2.3 billion people live in drylands, a number that has doubled in the last 30 years. Projections suggest that by 2100, this number could rise to 5 billion. These populations face significant threats from climate-induced aridification and desertification.
Key Impact Areas
Regions like Europe, the western US, Brazil, Asia, and central Africa are severely affected. South Sudan and Tanzania are experiencing the largest percentage of land transitioning to drylands, while China faces the largest area shift from non-drylands to drylands.
Future Projections
In scenarios of high greenhouse gas emissions, drylands are expected to expand into regions such as the Midwestern US, central Mexico, northern Venezuela, southeastern Argentina, and much of southern Africa and Australia.
A Permanent Transformation
UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw emphasized that aridity represents a permanent transformation. Unlike temporary droughts, this persistent shift means the affected areas will not return to their original climate, marking an existential challenge for billions globally.
Summary of the news
| Why in News | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Over 77% of Earth’s land became drier in the last 30 years, warns UN Report | – 77% of Earth’s land became drier from 1990 to 2020. – Drylands expanded by 4.3 million square kilometers, covering 40% of Earth’s land. – 2.3 billion people now live in drylands (double in the last 30 years). – If emissions are not curtailed, an additional 3% of humid areas could turn to drylands by 2100. – Regions affected: 96% of Europe, parts of the western US, Brazil, Asia, and central Africa. – South Sudan and Tanzania have the largest percentage of land transitioning to drylands. – China has the largest total area shifting from non-drylands to drylands. |
| UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification) | – Launching the report at the 16th conference of the UNCCD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. |
| UNCCD Executive Secretary | – Ibrahim Thiaw. |
| Key Forecast for the Future | – Worst-case scenario: 5 billion people could live in drylands by 2100. – Further dryland expansion forecast for the Mediterranean region, southern Australia, southern Africa, and parts of the US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina. |
| Aridity vs. Drought | – Aridity is a permanent, unrelenting transformation of land, unlike temporary droughts. |
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