COP16 Report: Over 75% of Global Land Now "Permanently Drier"

Riyadh: More than 75% of the Earth’s land has become “permanently drier” over the last three decades, according to a UN-backed report released during COP16 talks in Saudi Arabia.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) revealed that dry land now covers 40% of the planet, excluding Antarctica. This trend, attributed to global warming, could affect up to five billion people by 2100.

The report highlights a 4.3 million square kilometer increase in dry land from 1990 to 2020, affecting regions like the Mediterranean, southern Africa, southern Australia, and parts of Asia and Latin America.

“Unlike temporary droughts, aridity is a permanent change, redefining life on Earth,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw.

Key Impacts:

• Soil degradation and ecosystem collapse
• Food insecurity and water shortages
• Forced migration due to unlivable conditions

Currently, 2.3 billion people live in affected areas. The UNCCD has urged countries to integrate aridity metrics into drought monitoring systems, improve soil and water management, and support vulnerable communities.

With up to 40.6% of global land facing aridity, urgent action is needed to address this growing crisis.