In brief
More than 75% of Earth's land has experienced drying conditions in recent decades, affecting billions and threatening food security, according to a newly released U.N. report presented at a summit in Saudi Arabia.
A comprehensive new report from the United Nations has revealed that over three-quarters of the Earth’s land has become increasingly drier in the past few decades, marking a trend described as a “global, existential peril.” The report attributes this alarming shift primarily to human-induced global warming and industrial emissions of greenhouse gases. As global leaders convene in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to address issues related to desertification, the report highlights that if temperatures continue to rise unchecked, more regions could face severe consequences including sand and dust storms, increased wildfires, significant water shortages, and widespread crop failures. Since 1990, the number of people living in arid areas has expanded significantly, with almost one-third of the global population now residing in locations experiencing moisture deprivation, affecting crucial agricultural regions such as Argentina, Spain, and the Black Sea area. The implications of increased dryness are especially concerning for vulnerable nations like South Sudan, where water scarcity is compounded by conflict and instability.Dr. Narcisa Pricope, a land systems scientist and co-author of the report, emphasized the immediacy of this crisis, stating, “The aridity crisis is unfolding ‘in our lifetime.’ This is affecting our children.” With the stakes growing higher, the urgency to stabilize and maintain habitable land surfaces intensifies during these international discussions.
