Hey climate warriors! 🌍 A recent UN-backed report brings some alarming news: over 75% of the world's land has become \"permanently drier\" in the last three decades. That's right, more than three-quarters of our planet's land is drying up! 😱
Presented at the COP16 talks on desertification in Saudi Arabia, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) study highlights that dry land now covers about 40% of Earth's land mass (excluding Antarctica). This shift could impact up to five billion people by 2100 if we don't take action. 😓
\"Some 77.6% of Earth's land experienced drier conditions during the three decades leading up to 2020 compared to the previous 30-year period,\" the report states. This isn't just a temporary drought; it's a \"permanent, unrelenting transformation,\" according to Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary.
He warns, \"The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.\" 🌵🌡️
The areas most affected include nations bordering the Mediterranean, southern Africa, southern Australia, and certain regions of Asia and Latin America. Aridity—a chronic shortage of water—now extends over 40.6% of the Earth's land mass, compared to 37.5% thirty years ago.
Barron Orr, UNCCD Chief Scientist, emphasized, \"For the first time, a UN scientific body is warning that burning fossil fuels is causing permanent drying across much of the world,\" adding that this could have \"potentially catastrophic impacts affecting access to water that could push people and nature even closer to disastrous tipping points.\" 💧🚫
The consequences? Soil degradation, ecosystem collapse, food insecurity, and forced migration. Already, 2.3 billion people live in expanding dry areas. If trends continue, we could see a \"worst-case scenario\" where five billion people are affected by chronic water shortages as the planet warms. 🌡️🔥
But it's not all doom and gloom! The scientists are urging immediate action to counter this trend. They recommend integrating aridity metrics into existing drought monitoring systems, improving soil and water management, and building resilience in vulnerable communities. 💪🌱
So, what can we do? Stay informed, spread the word, and support sustainable practices that help combat climate change. Remember, every small action counts! Let's make a difference together. ✊🌎
Reference(s):
COP16 report warns three-quarters of global land 'permanently drier'
cgtn.com
