image by: Tim J Keegan

HWN Suggests

Heat waves are replacing drought as the deadliest climate disaster

In the 1980s, droughts were one of the world's deadliest natural disasters, triggering food shortages and causing at least half a million deaths in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Mozambique alone.

But according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization, the number of deaths attributable to drought appears to be declining over time. (Update: Though see the note at the bottom for a few caveats here.*) One possible factor here? Many countries have become more adept at staving off famine during dry spells.

On the flip side, heat waves seem to be a rising killer, blamed for 72,000 deaths in Europe in 2003 and 55,000 in Russia in 2010... The WMO report looked at climate…

read full article

Featured

 Deforestation and Drought

Drought is usually thought of as a natural disaster beyond human control. But as researchers peer deeper into the Earth’s changing bioclimate — the vastly complex global interplay between living organisms and climatic forces — they are better appreciating the crucial role that deforestation plays.

Articles of Interest

A Free-Market Plan to Save the American West From Drought

A maverick investor is buying up water rights. Will he rescue a region, or just end up hurting the poor?

A Mega-Drought Is Coming to America’s Southwest

Unless carbon emissions plummet soon, the risk of a region-altering disaster in Arizona and New Mexico will exceed 99 percent.

Beyond California: The Worst Droughts In American History

To identify the Worst Droughts In U.S. History—a task that is harder than it might sound--Forbes consulted America’s top climate scientists. We discovered that comparing droughts is tricky.

Drought does not equal famine

Thus, this is a human crisis first and foremost, whatever you think of anthropogenic climate change. Politics and markets are human inventions, and the decisions that drive them are also human. We can’t blame this famine on the weather – we need to be looking at everything from local and national politics that shape access and entitlements to food to global food markets that have driven the price of needed staples up across the world, thus curtailing access for the poorest. The bad news: Humans caused this. The good news: If we caused it, we can prevent the next one.

Drought: A Creeping Disaster

Climatologists call drought a “creeping disaster” because its effects are not felt at once. Others compare drought to a python, which slowly and inexorably squeezes its prey to death.

Finding Restoration In The Desert

Africa is home to over 30 percent of the world’s natural resources, but produces only three percent of the world’s gross domestic product. Just as it was in Oregon for a time, it was also their common practice to burn roots off, but in working with our field staff and agriculture experts, we’ve been able to train farmers in a more productive way to farm with better results, therefore combating the process of desertification in vulnerable regions.

Resources

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 17 June

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels.