OECD’s Global Drought Outlook

Drought: A Growing Global Threat

• Global land area affected by drought has doubled since 1900.
• Now, 40% of the planet regularly faces more frequent and intense droughts.
• Some of the worst droughts in recorded history – such as Europe’s 2022 drought and ongoing drought in North America – have occurred in recent decades.

Key Driver: Climate Change

• Rising global temperatures are:
  • Altering rainfall patterns
  • Accelerating evaporation
  • Reducing freshwater availability
• These effects are intensifying drought risk worldwide.

Human, Environmental, and Economic Impacts

• Droughts are responsible for 34% of all disaster-related deaths.
• They exacerbate poverty, inequality, and forced displacement.
• Also cause severe ecosystem degradation, water scarcity, and crop failure.

OECD Recommendations: Drought Management for a Drier Future

The report offers practical policy solutions to:

1. Minimise drought-related losses
2. Build long-term resilience
3. Support adaptation strategies for climate-induced water stress

Focus Areas:

• Early warning systems & monitoring
• Drought-resilient infrastructure
• Water governance reforms
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Integrated risk management policies

(Source: OECD)