921. Global Drought Snapshot 2023

Unlike the sudden and dramatic nature of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, droughts unfold quietly, but their frequency and severity have increased dramatically in recent years, with far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, local economies, and human livelihoods.
 
The Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report, a collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), was launched at the recent COP28 in Dubai. Based on research and data collected over the past two years, the report underscores the escalating incidence of drought worldwide, its regional manifestations, and the resulting inadequacies of current mitigation strategies.

Global Impact

Drought knows no borders, but its impact is disproportionately borne by vulnerable populations. The report estimates that a staggering 1.8 billion people worldwide are affected, 85% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. Alarmingly, drought-related deaths among women and children outnumber men by a factor of 14.

Asia

Of particular concern is the depletion of glaciers in alpine regions, with a 40-year decline observed. The report highlights record low water levels in rivers and water bodies in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar due to unusually warm and dry conditions in 2022. Southern China will be affected by historically low water levels on the Yangtze River, which will affect approximately 5 million people.

Africa

By December 2022, approximately 23 million people in the Horn of Africa faced severe food insecurity due to prolonged drought. South Africa experienced a 33% loss of grazing land, a 17% reduction in water resources, an 11% increase in temperatures, and an 11% loss of vegetation. Food shortages and rising prices further threatened food security.

America

Economic losses were attributed to reduced agricultural growth, exemplified by reduced soybean production in Argentina in 2023, and transportation disruptions due to low river flows. Groundwater depletion, exacerbated by drought, emerged as a major threat to sustainable resource use.

Europe

Similar to the Americas, Europe struggled with trade setbacks and stunted agricultural development due to low river flows. The continent experienced its hottest summer on record in 2022, with an area of 630,000 km2 - four times the average drought.

These examples illustrate just a fraction of the multifaceted damage caused by drought-from hunger, displacement, and loss of life to economic setbacks in the form of reduced crop yields, trade restrictions, and reduced energy production.

There is a singular imperative for the world to stop the spread of drought. Through collective efforts, we can make a difference by promoting understanding, raising awareness, and encouraging active participation.

Contributors: Solongo TUMUR and IIYAMA Miyuki (Information Program)