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Earth’s lands are drying out. Nations are trying to address it in talks this week

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Associate Press or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A U.N. report presented at the Riyadh summit warns that over 75% of Earth’s lands are experiencing drier conditions, mainly due to human-driven climate change, deforestation, and water scarcity
Nations are negotiating measures to address drought and desertification, which threaten ecosystems, agriculture, and human survival
Saudi Arabia has pledged $2.15 billion, while the Arab Coordination Group committed $10 billion for drought resilience

🔭 The context: The summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia, is focused on the growing issue of land degradation and desertification
The U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification emphasizes that aridity is increasingly irreversible
The report highlights the impacts of global warming, where drier land exacerbates migration, food insecurity, and economic challenges

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Drier lands reduce biodiversity and escalate water shortages, creating environmental and humanitarian crises
Farming faces severe productivity losses, threatening global food security
Coordinated international action is critical to mitigate climate and ecological tipping points

⏭️ What's next: Nations must decide on binding protocols for drought response, including funding from richer countries to vulnerable regions
Improved forecasting, water management, and reforestation are highlighted as immediate adaptation strategies
The effectiveness of these measures depends on global collaboration and stronger commitments to curb climate change

💬 One quote: “The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were. This change is redefining life on Earth” — Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Chief

📈 One stat: By 2100, nearly 5 billion people could face drier conditions, up from one-quarter of the global population today

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change effects 

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