Severe drought Conditionsโข Forecasted toโค Intensify Globally in Coming Decades
LISBON, PORTUGAL – September 25, 2025 โ- A โnew study published in โฃ Nature Communications warns of escalating droughtโข risk across โmultiple continents over the next few โฃdecades, possibly โtriggering widespreadโ societal disruption and ecologicalโข damage. Researchers predict โthat โregions already grappling withโข water scarcity, including parts of Africa, Asia, โand the United โStates, willโข experience increasingly frequent โand severe droughts, demanding urgent adaptation strategies.
The analysis,โฃ conducted by an international team, highlights a concerning trend:โค climate change is exacerbating natural โฃclimate variability, leading to prolonged periods of below-average rainfall and heightened evaporation rates. Thisโค confluence of factors threatens agricultural โproduction, water resources, and overall stability for billions ofโฃ people. Theโฃ study specifically points toโค the Korean Peninsula as an areaโข facing increased vulnerability, alongside existing โฃhotspots in Africa โขand the American Southwest. The research underscores the critical need for proactiveโ water management, sustainable land use practices, and internationalโ cooperation to mitigate the impacts ofโ this growing crisis.
The study’s findings build upon decades of โclimate research demonstrating a clear link between rising global temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. While โคdroughts are aโ natural part of the Earth’s climate system,โค theirโ intensity andโข frequency are projected to increase considerably under continued greenhouse gas emissions. Theโ researchers utilized advancedโค climate models and historical โdata to assess droughtโข risk across various regions, identifying areas where the probability ofโ extreme drought โevents โคis expectedโ to double or even triple by the mid-21st century.
The implications โextend beyond agriculture. Water scarcity can fuel social unrest, โฃexacerbate existing conflicts, and drive mass migration.โฃ The Correio da Manhรฃ reports that the study โemphasizes the importance of investing in drought-resistantโฃ crops, improving irrigation efficiency, and developing โoption water sources, such as desalination and โrainwaterโ harvesting. Moreover, the researchers advocate for policies โthat promote responsible water consumption and reduce overall demand.
The research โขteam included scientists from multiple institutions and utilized data collected by โorganizations โlike the European Press Agency โฃ(EFE). โThe study’sโ publication serves โas a stark reminderโ of the urgent need for global action to addressโ climate change and build resilience to โits unavoidable consequences.