This Planet Is Drying Up. And these Are the Consequences: MADRID, Dec 1 2022  (IPS) – Drought
is one of the ‘most destructive’ natural disasters in terms of the loss
of life, arising from impacts, such as wide-scale crop failure,
wildfires and water stress.

In other words, droughts are one of the “most feared natural
phenomena in the world;” they devastate farmland, destroy livelihoods
and cause untold suffering, as reported by the world’s top specialised bodies: the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

They occur when an area experiences a shortage of water supply due to
a lack of rainfall or lack of surface or groundwater. And they can last
for weeks, months or years.

Exacerbated by land degradation and climate change, droughts are
increasing in frequency and severity, up 29% since 2000, with 55 million
people affected every year.

By 2050, droughts may affect an estimated three-quarters of the world’s
population. This means that agricultural production will have to
increase by 60% to meet the global food demand in 2050.

This means that about 71% of the world’s irrigated area and 47% of
major cities are to experience at least periodic water shortages. If
this trend continues, the scarcity and associated water quality problems
will lead to competition and conflicts among water users, adds the
Convention.