Drought at the Forefront: In the News and at the UN
June 18, 2021
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This year, June 17 was the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Presented by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), this day was observed to “focus on turning degraded land into healthy land.” In the Southwestern US, the current drought has plagued the already hot and dry climate for over 20 years. The day could not be more timely; over the last few weeks, both regional and national news organizations have highlighted the severe drought conditions gripping the West. Earlier this month, the New York Times published an article featuring many highly informative maps demonstrating the severity of the current precipitation and temperature conditions. An article in the Arizona Republic noted the record low water levels in Lake Mead on course to trigger significant cutbacks to Colorado River water allotments for Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. Other articles have focused on the drought's impacts on regional food security. According to one, the current drought, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, has caused food prices to spike and land degradation throughout the Southwest. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought engages on these issues with a program featuring videos, music, and activities for children. The UNCCD hopes to encourage communities everywhere to better their relationships with the natural environment.
Image: U.S. Drought Monitor-Conditions during the first week of June, 2000-2021