OECD Report Highlights Doubling of Drought-Affected Areas Over 120 Years

Recent findings from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveal a troubling trend: the global land area impacted by drought has doubled over the past 120 years. In 1900, droughts affected approximately 10% of the world's land, but this figure has surged to over 20% by 2020.

The OECD's report indicates that drought periods are becoming increasingly frequent and severe worldwide. This analysis is based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), which assesses rainfall and evaporation data. Areas are classified as drought-affected when their SPEI value drops below a certain threshold. Notably, regions such as the Sahara, the Gobi Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, and polar areas were excluded from this evaluation.

Between 2000 and 2020, nearly 40% of the Earth's land recorded more frequent and severe droughts compared to the period from 1950 to 2000. This trend is also observable in Germany, where changes in precipitation patterns have become apparent. The German Weather Service reported that rainfall in May was nearly a third less than the average from 1991 to 2020, marking one of the driest springs on record.

The OECD attributes the primary cause of increased drought to climate change, highlighting several contributing factors. Rising temperatures lead to higher evaporation rates, disrupt normal rainfall patterns, and diminish snowpack and glacial reserves. Additionally, detrimental agricultural practices, deforestation, and urbanization exacerbate these issues.

Such extreme drought conditions threaten to disrupt ecosystems and endanger biodiversity, significantly impacting agriculture and the economy. The absence of sufficient water for navigation and cooling in energy production poses further challenges.

In light of these findings, Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency, emphasized the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies in agriculture. He noted that water is no longer a guaranteed resource, urging the public to adopt more water-efficient practices. Should the drought persist, restrictions on water usage may need to be reinstated, especially for activities such as garden irrigation and pool filling. These measures have previously proven effective and generally receive public support.