UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The United Nations marked the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought by underscoring the critical global challenge posed by these environmental threats. Accordingly, nearly two billion people worldwide rely on ecosystems in dryland areas, with up to 90% of them residing in developing nations, including many within the Commonwealth. Ecosystem degradation, exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable human activities, has plunged numerous communities into a cycle of escalating challenges. These include diminishing tree cover, erratic rainfall patterns, more frequent droughts, declining soil productivity, worsening erosion, and dust storms.
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Notably, the Rio Earth Summit of 1992 highlighted desertification, climate change, and biodiversity loss as paramount obstacles to sustainable development. In response, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994, marking the sole legally binding international treaty related to environment and development to the sustainable management of land. The Commonwealth Secretariat recently joined the International Drought Resilience Alliance at the UNFCCC COP meeting in Dubai, affirming its commitment to tackling drought-related issues. Additionally, as part of the current initiatives, the Secretariat, in collaboration with the UNCCD, will convene a roundtable discussion during London Climate Action Week in June. This session aims to enhance climate resilience by integrating sustainable land management practices and index insurance mechanisms.
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Addressing the severe global impacts of drought remains a critical imperative. Over the past century, droughts have resulted in more than 10 million deaths and substantial economic losses exceeding several hundred billion US dollars globally. Africa, in particular, has borne the brunt of these catastrophic events. For example, from 1998 and 2017, droughts resulted in economic losses estimated at US$124 billion, a 29% increase since 2000. Additionally, drought impacts the lives of 55 million people annually, directly affecting agriculture and livestock globally. Water shortage affected 2.3 billion people, with the threats continuing to impact stability leading to the displacement of 50 million people as a result of desertification.
From 2020 to 2022, twenty three Commonwealth countries witnessed severe drought emergencies, reflecting a stark reality across various regions. Recent instances include emergencies in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Pakistan, Zambia, as well as Pacific Island nations and Caribbean states like Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda, which struggle with acute water scarcity. In Kenya, for instance, prolonged drought since September 2021 has plunged northern regions into their severest dry spell in four decades, affecting 134,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women, some of whom are suffering from acute malnutrition and urgently require assistance.
Lesotho has witnessed over half a million people grappling with severe food shortages, with tens of thousands at risk of famine, as reported by UN humanitarian agencies in 2019. Similarly, Malawi has faced devastating floods and drought since May 2024, severely impacting nine million people and causing a food crisis. Meanwhile, Mozambique continues to battle food insecurity exacerbated by the effects of the 2023-2024 El Niño, which brought below-average rainfall to southern and central regions. Additionally, with 80% of the population dependent on rain-fed agriculture, more than 20 million Mozambicans face severe drought conditions. These challenges underscore the urgent need for collective action and innovative solutions within the Commonwealth and beyond to mitigate the impacts of drought and desertification, safeguarding vulnerable populations and promoting sustainable development.
