Over 75% of Earth’s Land Faces Permanent Dryness Due to Climate Change

A striking study reveals that 77.6% of Earth’s land has become permanently drier since 1990, with drylands now comprising 40.6% of the global land mass. This transformation is attributed mainly to human-induced climate change, with experts warning that up to five billion people could be affected by 2100 if emissions are not curtailed. The consequences include water scarcity, agricultural collapse, and forced migration, underlining the urgent need for global action to address climate change.

A significant new study from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) reveals that over three-quarters (77.6%) of Earth’s land has transitioned to a more arid climate over the last three decades, specifically from 1990 to 2020. In this period, dryland areas expanded by approximately 4.3 million square kilometers, an expanse nearly equal to one-third larger than India. Consequently, drylands now constitute approximately 40.6% of the global land mass, excluding Antarctica, marking a notable increase from 37.5% over the previous 30 years, even in the face of extreme weather events such as floods and storms.

Experts have warned that this “existential crisis” posed by climate change could potentially affect up to five billion individuals by the century’s end. If greenhouse gas emissions are not adequately addressed, projections indicate that an additional 3% of the world’s humid regions may become drylands by 2100. Forecasted expansions of drylands are observed in multiple regions including the Midwestern United States, northern South America, and various parts of southern Africa and southern Australia.

The report, titled “The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and Global Aridity Trends and Future Projections,” was unveiled at the 16th conference of UNCCD parties in Saudi Arabia (COP16). Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD’s Executive Secretary, emphasized the report’s clarity in documenting global drying trends, stating that these transformations are not fleeting but permanent. He highlighted the stark difference between temporary droughts and the lasting changes wrought by aridity, cautioning that once an area becomes drier, its previous climatic conditions are unlikely to return.

The study attributes these shifting climatic conditions primarily to human-induced climate change, which alters rainfall patterns, increases evaporation, and impacts plant life, further exacerbating aridity. Areas severely affected by aridity include almost all of Europe, parts of the western United States, Brazil, and significant regions throughout Asia and central Africa. Conversely, only 22.4% of the world’s land experienced wetter conditions during this time. Notably, nations such as South Sudan and Tanzania face the highest percentage of land shifting toward drylands, with China noted for the largest total area becoming drylands.

As the planet continues to warm, the report’s dire projections indicate that up to five billion people could find themselves in drylands by 2100. One of the most significant repercussions of this aridity is forced migration, as individuals and communities may have to leave their homes due to diminishing water supplies and agricultural breakdowns, leading to broader social and political conflicts.

UNCCD Chief Scientist Barron Orr stated that for the first time a UN scientific entity has recognized the direct correlation between fossil fuel combustion and the permanent transformation of many global regions toward aridity, highlighting the urgent implications for water access and environmental stability. Nichole Barger, Chair of the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface, pointed out that without concerted global actions and innovative solutions, the future for billions may be characterized by hunger and displacement. However, she remains optimistic that humanity possesses the capabilities to respond effectively, stressing that the critical question is whether there exists the resolve to take action.

This study arrives at a crucial juncture when the effects of climate change are increasingly observable and pressing. The consistent increase in global temperatures, primarily driven by human activities and greenhouse gas emissions, has raised alarm regarding the long-term viability of numerous ecosystems and agricultural systems. With nearly half of the planet’s land now categorized as drylands, understanding the scope and implications of this transformation is essential for addressing future challenges related to food security, water supply, and human migration.

In conclusion, the UNCCD’s recent findings underscore an alarming trend in global aridity, with significant portions of land moving towards permanent dryness due to climate change. The implications of this shift threaten not only ecological balance but also the livelihoods of billions worldwide. Immediate action to combat greenhouse gas emissions and innovative solutions to adapt to these changes are imperative if we hope to mitigate the dire predictions articulated in the report. Failure to act could result in widespread humanitarian crises and environmental degradation on an unprecedented scale.

Original Source: www.communitynewspapergroup.com