Planetary summer

Prolonged droughts and heat waves are wreaking havoc across continents. Europe may have reached the point of no return

- ROHINI K MURTHY

ABOUT 4,200 years ago, droughts swept almost every Asia and continent-from Africa to Europe, North America and South America. These arid conditions are believed to have persisted for 300 years and caused the collapse of ancient civilisations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus valley and China.

A similar climatic pattern appears to be taking shape as most continents experience a severe, prolonged drought with rippling effects on everything from food and water to energy availability. The Horn of Africa, which is home to the poorest nations of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, faces its worst drought in over 40 years after receiving deficit rainfall for four years in a row. The UN says that some 16.2 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are without access to reliable safe water and close to 22 million are at risk of starvation.

“Based on the preliminary data and observations, we can say that this [2022 drought] event seems to be more severe compared to the past events that affected Europe”

ANDREA TORETI

SENIOR SCIENTIST, EUROPEAN COMMISSION