Archived press release

Earth's Land Surface is Drying Up

12 January 2005

Europe and many other parts of the world are increasingly being stricken by serious drought, according to new research from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, launched today (Wednesday 12^th January). The overall percentage of land area affected has doubled in the last thirty years, with climate change singled out as the key factor [1].

The new scientific evidence underlines the threat global warming poses to our planet, according to Friends of the Earth Europe, who urged European leaders to face up to the challenge and agree drastic cuts in the emissions that are leading to global warming.

The analysis, from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), reveals that, as a result of climate change, over the past 30 years the proportion of Earth's land area stricken by serious drought more than doubled from the 1970s to the early 2000s. The fraction of global land experiencing very dry conditions rose from about 10-15% in the early 1970s to about 30% by 2002. The findings were be presented at the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting in San Diego, California [2].

Friends of the Earth Europe's Climate Campaigner Jan Kowalzig said:

"This new report shows what we can expect for Europe summers: hotter and drier weather, with huge social and economic costs. Droughts and heat waves such as hit Europe in 2003 were a taste of what is to come. Yet politicians still refuse to face up to climate change. Current policies are no where near enough."

Friends of the Earth Europe calls on EU governments to recognise that climate change is becoming the largest threat to our planet [3] and not shy away from committing to real action with clear long-term targets. A long-term commitment is also needed for investors that can bring about the much-needed technological revolution in how Europe produces and consumes energy.

Jan Kowalzig continued:

"We know the cure: cut emissions. The science tells us a 60-80% reduction is needed. We can achieve this through increases in renewable energies and energy efficiency, which will also trigger innovation and new economic activity."

Notes

[1] The new NCAR report examines linear trends in the Palmer Drought Severity Index from 1948 to 2002. This index is a measure of near-surface moisture conditions and is correlated with soil moisture content. It shows drying across much of Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa and moistening across parts of the United States, Argentina, Scandinavia, and western Australia. More information at www.ncar.ucar.edu/

[2] The NCAR report also reflects similar conclusions drawn by the European Environment Agency (EEA Report No 2/2004), saying that over the last 100 years Europe's temperature has risen by

0.95C, faster than the global average 0,7C. More information at http://reports.eea.eu.int/climate_report_2_2004/en

[3] The heat wave killed more than 30,000 people and, according to the insurance company Munich Re, caused 13bn EUR in economic damages. The summer 2003 was the hottest summer over the past 500 years.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust