July 24, 2022

THIS WEEK IN HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS

Climate change, drought & the impact on food security

Sources: Yale Climate Connections, Diálogo Chino, NK News, European Commission, Euractiv        

As summer heats up in many parts of the world, unprecedented drought conditions have exposed the grim reality of climate change and the impact of water scarcity on human rights. 

Water is not only crucial for basic functions such as drinking and sanitation, it is also necessary for agriculture and global food production. Drought has a devastating impact on important food sources such as crops and livestock.

Drought is the absence of precipitation over an extended period of time and is a normal part of some climates. However, as climate change prompts higher temperatures than normal, drought is becoming more and more commonplace, especially in areas that previously have not experienced it.

In Brasil, Paraguay, and Argentina – the three main producers of agriculture in South America – drought has impacted important summer crops such as maize and soybeans. In addition to impacting the continent of South America, the implications are also global as Brasil is the world’s third largest producer of maize. The loss of crops will also have resounding economic consequences.

In North Korea, an isolated economy impacted by restrictive government control and international sanctions, drought has exacerbated food insecurity. Foreign aid workers left the country en masse in 2021, limiting the amount of on-the-ground knowledge and analysis of the extent of the drought and its impact on food security.
In Europe, a July European Union drought assessment revealed that drought was impacting the potential for crop yields, especially for cereals (such as wheat, rye, and rice). As reported by Euractiv, the report wrote that “the severe drought affecting several regions of Europe since the beginning of the year continues expanding and worsening”.