Three-quarters of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades, according to a recent research by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which was published on Monday, December 9.

According to the report, drylands now make up 40 per cent of the world’s land, excluding Antarctica. Those areas have turned from humid regions to arid ones, where agricultural activities are no longer possible.

Drylands are regions where most of the rainfall water is lost to evaporation, while only a small 10 per cent is left for the vegetation. According to the study, two-thirds of the land on earth will retain less water by midcentury.

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The scientists discovered that the growing aridity between the years 1990 and 2015 in Africa has resulted in a 12 per cent loss in its GDP. In particular, some crops like maize are significantly affected, with yields projected to be halved in Kenya by 2050.

It is predicted that in the next half decade, Africa will see a decline of 16 per cent of its GDP while Asia will witness about 7 per cent.

“Unlike droughts—temporary periods of low rainfall—aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UN convention to combat desertification (UNCCD).

“Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost. The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.”

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A global conference under the UNCCD in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh that will conclude on Friday, December 13, is halfway through. Despite being one of the world’s most arid countries and a driving force for desertification across the world, Saudi Arabia has shown reluctance till now, including at the UN framework convention on climate change conference of the parties (Cop) in Azerbaijan the previous month.

According to the report by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), the UN body for assessing the science of land degradation and drought, human-caused climate change is the primary driver of this shift as the world fails to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions, intensive agriculture, and other human activities. This leads to warming of the planet and affects the rainfall, plant life, and evaporation, leading to increased aridity.

As of 2020, about 30 per cent of the world’s population, which is 2.3 billion people, lived in dryland areas, according to UN SPI. By 2100, the number is expected to double if the carbon emissions are not controlled.

(With inputs from agencies)

Three-quarters of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades, according to a recent research by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which was published on Monday, December 9.

Three-quarters of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades, according to a recent research by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which was published on Monday, December 9. According to the report, drylands now make up 40 per cent of the world’s land, excluding Antarctica. Those areas have turned from humid regions to arid ones, where agricultural activities are no longer possible. Drylands are regions where most of the rainfall water is lost to evaporation, while only a small 10 per cent is left for the vegetation. According to the study, two-thirds of the land on earth will retain less water by midcentury. Also read | Asteroid that hit US had a surprising effect on Earth, study finds The scientists discovered that the growing aridity between the years 1990 and 2015 in Africa has resulted in a 12 per cent loss in its GDP. In particular, some crops like maize are significantly affected, with yields projected to be halved in Kenya by 2050. It is predicted that in the next half decade, Africa will see a decline of 16 per cent of its GDP while Asia will witness about 7 per cent. “Unlike droughts—temporary periods of low rainfall—aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UN convention to combat desertification (UNCCD). “Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost. The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.” Also read | Scientists discover abnormally large skull of 'lost' human species in Asia A global conference under the UNCCD in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh that will conclude on Friday, December 13, is halfway through. Despite being one of the world’s most arid countries and a driving force for desertification across the world, Saudi Arabia has shown reluctance till now, including at the UN framework convention on climate change conference of the parties (Cop) in Azerbaijan the previous month. According to the report by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), the UN body for assessing the science of land degradation and drought, human-caused climate change is the primary driver of this shift as the world fails to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions, intensive agriculture, and other human activities. This leads to warming of the planet and affects the rainfall, plant life, and evaporation, leading to increased aridity. As of 2020, about 30 per cent of the world’s population, which is 2.3 billion people, lived in dryland areas, according to UN SPI. By 2100, the number is expected to double if the carbon emissions are not controlled. (With inputs from agencies)

Three-quarters of the Earth’s land has become permanently drier, says UN report

A new study published in the journal Science on June 3, 2022, has revealed that 44 per cent of the Earth's surface area, or 64 million square kilometres (24.7 million square miles), has to be conserved in order to protect biodiversity.

Dr. James R. Allan of the University of Amsterdam headed the team that employed advanced geospatial algorithms to map the best places on the globe to save terrestrial species and ecosystems. They also used spatially explicit land-use scenarios to estimate how much of this land will be threatened by human activity by 2030.

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"Our study is the current best estimate of how much land we must conserve to stop the biodiversity crisis—it is essentially a conservation plan for the planet," said lead author James Allan.&nbsp;

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"We must act fast. Our models show that over 1.3 million km2 of this important land--an area larger than South Africa--is likely to have its habitat cleared for human uses by 2030, which would be devastating for wildlife."

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The finding has crucial policy implications because nations are presently negotiating a post-2020 global biodiversity framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will ideally come into effect later this year with new biodiversity goals and targets. This will set the conservation agenda for the next decade or more, and governments will be required to report on progress toward these goals on a regular basis.

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(with inputs from agencies)

A new study published in the journal Science on June 3, 2022, has revealed that 44 per cent of the Earth's surface area, or 64 million square kilometres (24.7 million square miles), has to be conserved in order to protect biodiversity.

A new study published in the journal Science on June 3, 2022, has revealed that 44 per cent of the Earth's surface area, or 64 million square kilometres (24.7 million square miles), has to be conserved in order to protect biodiversity. Dr. James R. Allan of the University of Amsterdam headed the team that employed advanced geospatial algorithms to map the best places on the globe to save terrestrial species and ecosystems. They also used spatially explicit land-use scenarios to estimate how much of this land will be threatened by human activity by 2030. Also read | Climate change effect: ‘Snow-white' Alps turning green, says study after analysing satellite data "Our study is the current best estimate of how much land we must conserve to stop the biodiversity crisis—it is essentially a conservation plan for the planet," said lead author James Allan. Watch | Gravitas: Earth could heat up at alarming levels in 5 years "We must act fast. Our models show that over 1.3 million km2 of this important land--an area larger than South Africa--is likely to have its habitat cleared for human uses by 2030, which would be devastating for wildlife." Also read | Epitome of 'hell on earth’: NASA to study unique exoplanet '55 Cancri e' The finding has crucial policy implications because nations are presently negotiating a post-2020 global biodiversity framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will ideally come into effect later this year with new biodiversity goals and targets. This will set the conservation agenda for the next decade or more, and governments will be required to report on progress toward these goals on a regular basis. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (with inputs from agencies)

Almost half of Earth's land requires conservation to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services

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Three-quarters of the Earth’s land has become permanently drier, says UN report

Almost half of Earth's land requires conservation to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services