Climate change: How Africa is forming a united front against drought!

Climate change: How Africa is forming a united front against drought!

The UN Desert Security Conference ended without the hoped-for binding agreement to combat drought. African countries had hoped for progress in the form of a mandatory protocol to ensure governments take responsibility for preventive measures. States had made “significant progress” but only a framework agreement was promised, which many see as inadequate Small newspaper reported. The conference comes as droughts increase dramatically around the world. According to the UN, drought events have increased by 29 percent since 2000.

The financial impact of drought is staggering: worldwide, it costs over $300 billion each year. UN forecasts show that 75 percent of the world's population is expected to be affected by drought by 2050. This could have catastrophic consequences for food production and energy supplies. Recent reports show that 2024 could be the warmest year on record so far, with devastating drought events in the Mediterranean, Brazil, Morocco and Malawi. This extreme drought has already led to water and food shortages, and the situation is alarming as to how Mirror reported.

Global challenges

Droughts are exacerbated by climate change-related human impact, causing not only economic costs but also social and environmental problems. Conference participants criticized developed countries for rejecting a strict protocol and seeking only a vague framework agreement. Pressure on the international community is growing, particularly as the situation in many affected regions becomes increasingly critical. Negotiations will continue with the hope of making more significant progress at the next meeting in Mongolia in 2026.