“Bell” in the states to take action regarding drought hit the United Nations, calling on them to tackle water management and climate change problems to avoid the “next pandemic” threatening the world.
Relevant research estimates that more than 1.5 billion people have already been affected by droughts this century and the financial cost has reached $ 124 billion. However, the real costs are considered to be many times higher, as such estimates do not take into account the impact on developing countries.
“Drought is on the verge of becoming the next pandemic and there is no vaccine for it. Most of the world will live with little water in the coming years. Demand will exceed supply in certain periods.
Drought is the main factor in land degradation and falling yields of important crops. People have been living with droughts for 5,000 years, but what we see now is very different. “Human activities are maximizing drought and increasing its impact,” said Mami Mizutori, the United Nations Special Representative for Disaster Reduction.
Mizutori said people have the impression that drought is affecting desert areas in Africa, but that is wrong. Drought is now widespread and by the end of the century, it will be felt by almost all states. Drought has been felt in southern Europe, the US and Australia and costs € 9 billion a year.
Drought does not only affect agricultural activities. Roger Pulwarty of the US NOAA, noted that the Danube has been hit by repeated waves of drought, affecting transport, tourism, industry and energy production.
The report, in addition to changes in rainfall, attributes the drought to inefficient use of water resources, as well as poor agricultural practices. Deforestation, heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides, and excessive water use for agriculture are also major problems.
Mizutori called on governments to take action to address the drought by changing the way water is extracted, stored and used, as well as the way land is used. He stressed that cooperation with local agencies is crucial, as they know each area and can provide information on where and how to store water or how to predict the effects of droughts.
The research will be discussed at the United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow in November.
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