DROUGHT

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Context

The recent, Drought in Numbers report by United Nations (UN) has revealed that many parts of India fall under the regions that are vulnerable to drought It also states that India’s GDP reduced by 2 to 5% between 1998 and 2017 due to severe droughts in the country.

About Drought in Numbers report

The Drought in Numbers report is a collection of data on the effects of droughts on our ecosystem and how they can be mitigated through efficient planning for the future.
The report also helps inform negotiations surrounding key decisions by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD’s 197 member parties at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15).

Drought as Global Issue

The number and duration of droughts around the world have increased by an alarming 29% since 2000.
The upward trajectory in the duration of droughts and the severity of impacts, not only affects human societies but also the ecological systems upon which the survival of all life depends, including that of our species.
According to World Bank estimates, drought conditions can force up to 216 million people to migrate by 2050. Other factors at play along with drought could be water scarcity, declining crop productivity, rise in sea levels, and overpopulation.
As per the World Meteorological Organisation, weather, climate and water hazards have accounted for 50% of all disasters and 45% of all reported deaths since 1970.
- Between 2020 and 2022, 23 countries have faced drought emergencies.
- Climate change alone will cause 129 countries to experience an increase in drought exposure in the next few decades.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also noted that approximately 55 million people are directly affected by droughts annually, making it the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in almost every part of the world.
According to a 2017 report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the percentage of plants affected by drought has more than doubled in the last 40 years.