New UN figures reveal huge cost of drought, desertification
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 13)
| Topic: GS1 – Geography – Climate change |
| Context |
| ● The UNCCD COP16 summit in Riyadh focuses on combating desertification and addressing water scarcity, with global losses from droughts now estimated at $307 billion annually.
● The summit aims to accelerate action on land restoration and drought resilience, emphasizing nature-based solutions and significant investments in vulnerable regions. |
Global Context and Urgency
- The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where world leaders are discussing solutions for desertification and water scarcity, triggered by extreme heat and droughts.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the summit as a “moonshot moment” aimed at accelerating efforts to enhance land and drought resilience.
- Experts suggest that trillions of dollars will be required to address the growing crisis.
Cost of Drought and Desertification
- A new report revealed that global losses due to droughts cost $307 billion annually, which is significantly higher than previous estimates.
- Earlier calculations primarily focused on agricultural losses but ignored the broader impact on health and energy sectors, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the economic toll.
Impact of Desertification and Drought
- The UN states that 40% of the world’s land is degraded, and droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, with an increase of 29% since 2000 due to climate change and unsustainable land management.
- These issues threaten agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people, especially the poorest nations.
- Drought worsens air and water quality, intensifies sand and dust storms, and disrupts power grids.
- It also affects food production, causing shortages when rivers dry up and water becomes scarce.
Summit Goals and Investments
- Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD executive secretary, emphasized that the summit should focus on promoting healthy lands and drought resilience to ensure food and energy security, human development, and peace.
- Saudi Arabia announced the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership to support 80 of the most drought-affected countries, with an initial pledge of $2.15 billion from Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Nature-Based Solutions
- The UNCCD report highlighted nature-based solutions, such as planting trees, managing grazing, and creating green spaces in urban areas, as cost-effective methods to combat drought.
- Investments in natural capital, such as soil restoration, have shown high returns, ranging from $1.40 to $27 for every dollar spent in two years.
| United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification |
| ● United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): Established in 1994, it aims to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought.
● Objective: Focuses on land degradation, primarily in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. ● Mission: To promote sustainable land management (SLM) practices, restore degraded lands, and reduce the impacts of desertification. ● Membership: 197 parties, including countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and others. ● Key Focus Areas: ○ Promoting sustainable land use practices. ○ Fostering partnerships and knowledge sharing. ○ Strengthening community resilience. ● Strategic Actions: Implementation of national action programs (NAPs), financial support, and capacity-building for affected regions. ● Global Target: Achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030. |
| Practice Question: Discuss the economic and environmental impacts of desertification and drought. How can nature-based solutions contribute to tackling these issues, and what role do international partnerships play in mitigating the challenges posed by desertification and water scarcity? (250 Words /15 marks) |
