Drought could double by end of century

New research revealed at the Climate Clinic at the Conservative Party Conference today (Tuesday 3 October) showed that the current extent of drought could double by the end of the 21st Century, threatening the survival of millions of people around the world.

In the second half of the last century just one per cent of the world was affected by extreme drought.

The research, funded by DEFRA and carried out by Dr Eleanor Burke of the Met Office Hadley Centre uses a climate model to look at future drought based on temperature and rainfall predictions.  It shows that global drought is already increasing as a result of climate change - and there is a greatly increased risk of extreme drought by 2080.

The figures, which do not take into account all the science uncertainties or the potential for carbon feedbacks, send a stark warning to politicians as they discuss action to tackle global warming at the G8 summit in Mexico this week.

Andrew Simms, speaking on behalf of the Climate Clinic, said:

"This report is jaw-dropping. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation already kills 1.6 million children under five years old every year.  Small scale farming in Africa provides most of the continents food and seventy per cent of employment, virtually all is dependent on regular rainfall.  The new projections on drought from the Hadley Centre are like being told that this is the day the earth catches fire.

"Immediate, radical economic reform to cut emissions is desperately needed to prepare us to deal with such a scenario.  And massive resources must be found to help people in Africa, Asia and Latin America whose lives and livelihoods will be in peril.  The G8 special summit on climate change now underway in Mexico must begin by correcting the ninety per cent shortfall in promises of new funds to help poor countries adapt."

The Climate Clinic is calling on politicians of all parties to support urgent government action, both domestically and on the international stage, to prevent global temperatures rising more than two degrees above pre-industrial levels, beyond which our world faces disaster.

Organised by the UK's leading green organisations and supported by business and the Energy Saving Trust, the Climate Clinic is taking place at each of the main party political conferences this year.

For more information, venue details and the full Climate Clinic event programme, see: www.climateclinic.org.uk

Notes

The research is to be published in the Journal of Hydrometeorology this month. Further details from the Met Office Hadley Centre.

The research used the Palmer Drought Severity Index and found that a global increase in drought is expected to continue throughout the 21st century.

Contact details:

Friends of the Earth26-28 Underwood St.LONDONN1  7JQTel: 020 7490 1555Fax: 020 7490 0881Email: [email protected]Website: www.foe.co.uk

Media team