World Drought Atlas: Global Drought Risks and Climate Resilience

Introduction

The World Drought Atlas is a publication developed through collaboration between the European Commission and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Released in 2024, it examines the causes, impacts, and risks associated with drought and outlines approaches for improving drought resilience.

Objectives

  • Explain the complexity of drought and drought risk.

  • Highlight the impacts of drought on people, ecosystems, and economies.

  • Examine regional differences in drought vulnerability.

  • Encourage proactive drought-risk management.

  • Support evidence-based policies for adaptation and resilience.

What causes drought?

Drought can arise from several interacting factors:

  • Prolonged rainfall deficiency.

  • High temperatures and increased evaporation.

  • Climate variability, including El Niño-related influences in some regions.

  • Climate change, which can increase drought risk in many regions.

  • Unsustainable groundwater extraction and water management.

  • Land degradation and ecosystem damage.

Major types of drought

Meteorological drought: A prolonged period of below-normal precipitation.

Agricultural drought: Insufficient soil moisture to meet crop or vegetation requirements.

Hydrological drought: Reduced water availability in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and groundwater systems.

Socio-economic drought: A situation in which water shortages affect the availability of goods and services and cause significant social or economic impacts.

Relevance to India

  • Rain-fed agriculture is vulnerable to rainfall variability.

  • Groundwater depletion can intensify agricultural water stress.

  • Drought affects crop production, livestock, drinking water, and rural livelihoods.

  • Watershed development, efficient irrigation, drought-resistant crops, and early-warning systems can improve resilience.

UPSC Prelims Key Pointers

  • The World Drought Atlas was published in 2024.

  • It is a collaboration between the European Commission and UNCCD.

  • UNCCD is a legally binding international agreement focused on desertification, land degradation, and drought.

  • Drought is not exclusively a natural phenomenon; human activities can intensify drought impacts.

  • Desertification and drought are related but distinct concepts.

  • The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is a separate international framework covering a broad range of disaster risks.