UN official warns of structural economic risks from increasing drought

Andrea Meza, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), warned on Tuesday in Ulaanbaatar that drought represents a growing structural risk to global economies and production systems. Speaking at the COP17 conference, which began last Monday, Meza noted that drought frequency and severity have increased by 30% since the year 2000. She emphasized that the issue is no longer merely an environmental phenomenon but a critical threat to human livelihoods and infrastructure globally.

During the water-themed session at COP17, officials presented various technical tools and financial mechanisms designed to bolster resilience against water shortages. Meza stressed that while the crisis is often associated with food insecurity in Africa, it is now clearly manifesting in regions previously unaffected, such as parts of the Brazilian Amazon and Panama. The conference continues to focus on developing international strategies to mitigate these long-term economic and social impacts as droughts expand into new territories.