A sobering new report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has revealed that over Over 77 percent of Earth’s Land Has Became Drier in Last 30 Years leading up to 2020.
This significant increase in aridity is more than a temporary environmental concern; it represents a permanent transformation of global ecosystems, with dire consequences for billions of people.
Presented at the 16th UNCCD conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the findings underscore the urgent need to combat climate change and mitigate its effects on arid regions worldwide.
The Expanding Reach of Drylands
According to the UNCCD report, global drylands expanded by approximately 4.3 million square kilometers between 1990 and 2020, an area nearly a third larger than India. These drylands now cover more than 40% of Earth’s land, a striking indicator of climate change’s far-reaching impact.
Drylands are regions characterized by low precipitation, making them particularly vulnerable to desertification and aridification. The report emphasizes that if greenhouse gas emissions are not curtailed, an additional 3% of the planet’s humid areas could transform into drylands by 2100. Such an expansion would further strain already fragile ecosystems and the communities dependent on them.
Regions hit hardest by the drying trend include 96% of Europe, parts of the western United States, Brazil, central Africa, and significant portions of Asia.
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In particular, South Sudan and Tanzania experienced the most substantial percentage of land transitioning to drylands, while China recorded the largest total area shifting from non-drylands to drylands.
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The implications of this expansion are profound. Arid and semi-arid regions face diminished agricultural productivity, reduced water availability, and the loss of biodiversity, all of which jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of people. The report’s findings serve as a stark reminder that addressing the aridity crisis is critical to global sustainability.
Growing Challenges for Billions
The UNCCD report also highlights the growing human toll of increasing aridity. Over the past three decades, the population living in drylands has doubled to 2.3 billion people.
This number could surge to 5 billion by 2100 in a worst-case climate change scenario, further exacerbating the challenges faced by these regions.
Asia and Africa are home to roughly half of the world’s dryland inhabitants, with densely populated areas in Egypt, large parts of India, northeastern China, and eastern and northern Pakistan.
Drylands are not only experiencing increased aridity but also face mounting pressures from population growth and urbanization, which intensify competition for scarce resources.
The impacts of aridification are particularly severe for vulnerable communities, who often rely on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods. With reduced access to water and fertile land, these populations are increasingly at risk of food insecurity, poverty, and displacement.
The report also notes that dryland expansion is forecast for other regions, including the Midwestern United States, northern Venezuela, the Mediterranean basin, and large parts of southern Africa and Australia.
The permanent nature of aridification distinguishes it from temporary droughts. As Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, explained, “Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost.” This irreversible transformation underscores the importance of immediate action to address the root causes of climate change and support affected communities.
An Existential Threat to Life on Earth
The UNCCD report describes the current aridity crisis as an existential threat to billions of people worldwide. Unlike droughts, which are temporary periods of low rainfall, aridity represents a relentless and permanent shift in climate conditions. This transformation is redefining ecosystems, economies, and ways of life across the globe.
The effects of aridity extend far beyond the immediate challenges of water scarcity and land degradation. Ecosystems that once thrived under more humid conditions are unable to adapt to prolonged dryness, leading to the loss of biodiversity and the disruption of ecological balance. Wildlife habitats are shrinking, and species reliant on specific environmental conditions face heightened risks of extinction.
Furthermore, aridification exacerbates existing inequalities. The communities most affected by drying trends are often those least equipped to cope with their impacts.
Many of these regions lack the financial resources, infrastructure, and institutional support needed to implement effective adaptation strategies. The result is a vicious cycle of vulnerability, where the most marginalized populations bear the brunt of climate-induced changes.
The report’s findings also highlight the potential for cascading effects on global stability. As arid regions become less hospitable, the risk of conflict over scarce resources such as water and arable land increases.
Additionally, the displacement of populations from increasingly uninhabitable areas could contribute to migration pressures, both within and across borders.
The UNCCD report serves as a clarion call for immediate and coordinated action to address the aridity crisis. The expansion of drylands and the challenges faced by billions of people living in these regions underscore the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing sustainable land management practices.
Efforts to combat desertification and aridification must be grounded in science, equity, and global cooperation. By prioritizing resilience-building measures, supporting vulnerable communities, and fostering innovation, the international community can mitigate the worst impacts of this crisis and ensure a more sustainable future for all.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏