75% of the world’s population may experience the consequences of drought by 2050, according to UNCCD’s Drought Atlas, which was introduced in partnership with the European Commission Joint Research Centre and other organizations. The map, which was released during the 16th UNCCD meeting in Riyadh, emphasizes how drought affects vital industries including commerce, agriculture, and energy.

Human actions such as irresponsible water usage, inadequate resource planning, and land mismanagement worsen droughts. “Drought is not just a climate extreme,” said Bernard Magenhann, the European Commission Joint Research Center’s acting director general. He underlined the use of data in knowledge creation, risk forecasting, and impact management.

Lessons from UNCCD’s Drought Atlas: India as a Case Study on Mismanagement

The atlas emphasizes that India, which employs more than 25 million people in agriculture, confronts serious drought-related difficulties. The issue has gotten worse due to crop failures, especially in soybean yields, and poor water resource management. Despite Chennai’s heavy rainfall and innovative rainwater harvesting laws, the city’s 2019 “Day Zero” water crisis highlighted the negative effects of uncontrolled urban expansion and inadequate implementation.

India witnessed water-related riots from 2020 to 2023, highlighting the pressing need to solve water mismanagement. Similar difficulties are anticipated in Sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the necessity of international intervention.

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Call for Global Action and Resilience Building

To reduce drought risks, the atlas emphasizes the necessity of quick policy-level interventions, global collaboration, and data sharing. Proactive risk management, drought forecasting initiatives, and early warning systems are crucial. Established in 2022, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) promotes creative financing, information exchange, and effective drought management techniques.

Ibrahim Thiaw, the Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, emphasized the interrelated risks across sectors and urged countries to embrace a whole-of-society strategy for drought resilience. UNCCD’s Drought Atlas presents a comprehensive analysis of the effects of drought and gives practical recommendations for creating a more secure and sustainable future.

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