Drought costs the global economy over $300 billion each year, according to a United Nations report released during international talks on desertification in Saudi Arabia. The report warns that by 2050, drought could affect 75 percent of the world’s population, driven by “human destruction of the environment.”
The economic impact of drought surpasses $307 billion annually, exacerbated by severe conditions in countries like Ecuador, Brazil, Namibia, and Malawi, which have faced devastating fires and shortages of water and food. As 2024 approaches, it is projected to be the hottest year on record.
Kaveh Madani, a co-author of the UN report, emphasized that the costs of drought extend beyond agricultural losses, affecting supply chains, GDP, and livelihoods, ultimately leading to hunger, unemployment, and migration challenges.
Andrea Meza Murillo, a senior official from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, highlighted the importance of sustainable land and water resource management in fostering economic growth and resilience in drought-prone communities.
As discussions continue at the Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, the report calls on world leaders to recognize the preventable costs of drought and to invest in “nature-based solutions,” such as reforestation and watershed management, to secure human development within our planet’s limits.
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