Human-induced climate change is identified as the primary cause behind a three-year drought affecting Syria, Iraq, and Iran, as reported by a recent study. The drought, which commenced in July 2020, has resulted in severe water shortages for millions of people in the region. According to findings from a flash study conducted by an international team of climate scientists at World Weather Attribution, the drought is largely attributed to higher-than-usual temperatures, leading to increased evaporation of the limited rainfall.
Lead author of the study, Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College of London, emphasized that without the global temperature increase of 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the mid-19th century, the drought would not have reached such devastating proportions. This situation underscores how climate change exacerbates the naturally arid conditions in the region, transforming them into a humanitarian crisis marked by thirst, hunger, and displacement.
The research, while not yet peer-reviewed, employs sound scientific methodologies to detect the fingerprints of global warming by analyzing temperature, rainfall, and moisture levels. Computer simulations compared the last three years to conditions in a world without human-induced climate change. The study reveals that human-induced climate change has made life significantly more challenging for tens of millions of people in West Asia.
The research highlights the 25-fold increased likelihood of drought conditions in Syria and Iraq due to climate change and a 16-fold increase in Iran. This situation is further complicated by regional conflicts, such as Syria’s civil war, which have weakened infrastructure and water management, rendering the region even more susceptible to drought.
Fossil fuel consumption and the exploration of new oil and gas fields are identified as contributing factors to the worsening crisis. The study underscores that as long as these practices persist, events like these droughts will continue to escalate, resulting in devastation to livelihoods and elevated food prices, ultimately posing a global challenge.
It is evident that the consequences of climate change are not confined to specific regions but impact the entire world. This research emphasizes the pressing need to address climate change and transition to sustainable practices to mitigate the ongoing humanitarian and environmental crises.
By AFP
