The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that an increase in global temperatures has led to more frequent and hazardous weather events, including drought (IPCC 2023). Further scientific evidence demonstrates that drought is causing severe imbalances, or potential collapses, of ecosystems (Moss et al. 2024). Biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and migration – which can lead to conflict over land and water resources – are also being driven by drought.

The consequences of drought are global. Based on data reported by 101 country Parties to the UNCCD, 1.84 billion people are drought stricken, out of which 4.7 per cent are exposed to severe or extreme drought (UNCCD 2022)3. Drought also affects the poorest - 85% of people affected by droughts live in lower middle-income countries (Zaveri et al. 2023)4. Cognizant of the severity and prolonged impacts of drought on people and the environment, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the UNCCD will discuss drought as an emerging priority.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the GEF seeks to organize a side event to support the UNCCD COP16 discussions as well as the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) future efforts on drought risk management.

The side event aims to explore the critical role of drought management within the GEF’s strategic framework, focusing on the importance of proactive drought prevention and management by UNCCD Country Parties. The discussion will emphasize the integration of key biodiversity and climate challenges, addressing both the causes and consequences of drought, in line with the request from the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought to develop a new Integrated Program (IWG 2024) . To achieve this objective, the side event will feature expert presentations and interactive discussions that underscore the critical importance of drought resilience for the global environment. The event will highlight how proactive drought prevention addresses key global challenges like land degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and climate change, issues central to countries, UNCCD, the GEF, and others (e.g., Green Climate Fund, and the Adaptation Fund). By bringing together UNCCD Country Parties, land practitioners, scientists, and policymakers, the discussions will emphasize the urgency of managing the increasing severity of droughts and the benefits of integrating drought resilience with sustainable land management practices.

To initiate discussions, STAP will present the latest science influencing drought risk reduction and resilience, as well as synthesize preliminary, drought resilience strategies that can inform efforts led by UNCCD, GEF and others, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. As aforementioned, drought has become a significant driver of environmental degradation, exacerbating climate-sensitive livelihoods. Developing advice for the GEF that reflects the latest scientific evidence and practitioner knowledge on proactive drought management, and which reflects countries’ needs to become drought resilient, is of critical importance to STAP. In this vein, STAP will share its preliminary advice to the GEF on drought resilience, and seek input from the UNCCD scientific, practitioner, and policy community present at the event.