By Adeyemi Adekunle
In a small village in central Chad, Fatima Abakar walks miles daily to fetch water from a shrinking well. The cracked earth beneath her feet and the skeletal remains of once-productive farms are the stark signs of a drought that has upended life across her region. “There is no rain, no food, and no future,” Fatima says, her voice a mix of frustration and despair.
Stories like Fatima’s are a chilling reflection of the worsening global drought crisis—a crisis the world’s leaders, after two weeks of negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, failed to address.
The biennial United Nations Conference of Parties (COP 16), which concluded on Saturday, aimed to secure legally binding commitments to tackle droughts, exacerbated by climate change, but ended without a concrete agreement.
The stakes are staggering. A report released during the talks by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) warned that nearly five billion people—more than half the planet—will face the impacts of land drying by the end of the century if current global warming trends persist.
The repercussions will not remain confined to Africa, where Fatima struggles, but will extend to Europe, parts of the western United States, Brazil, eastern Asia, and beyond.
A Silent Catastrophe
Drought is often described as a “silent catastrophe.” It doesn’t arrive with the visible ferocity of a hurricane or the sudden destruction of an earthquake, yet its consequences are far more devastating. Agriculture, the lifeblood of many economies and communities, is hit hardest. Crops wither under relentless sun, livestock perish, and food prices soar. Fatima’s family once thrived as farmers, but today, they rely on humanitarian aid to survive. “When the last of our cattle died, I knew we were lost,” she says.
In Africa alone, millions are already grappling with food insecurity driven by prolonged droughts. Countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia have faced consecutive failed rainy seasons, leading to the worst hunger crisis in decades. The situation mirrors similar struggles in Brazil’s arid northeast and in California’s Central Valley, where farmers are watching their lands turn to dust.
“These are not isolated issues,” says Dr. Leila Nassif, a climate scientist who attended the Riyadh talks. “Drought transcends borders. When crops fail in one region, it sends ripples through global food markets. Prices rise, access shrinks, and vulnerable communities are pushed to the brink.”
The Failure in Riyadh
COP 16 sought to confront this reality head-on. Negotiators hoped to secure commitments for funding early warning systems and resilient infrastructure in drought-prone nations, particularly in Africa, where resources to mitigate climate impacts remain scarce. Yet, despite the urgency, the 197 participating nations failed to agree on a unified plan.
The disagreements echoed familiar divides. Wealthier nations, while acknowledging the severity of the crisis, hesitated to commit funds, often citing domestic economic challenges. Meanwhile, poorer nations, already bearing the brunt of drought and desertification, pleaded for equity and accountability.
“It feels like déjà vu,” says Didi Akumu, an environmental advocate from Kenya. “Every year, we hear promises and warnings, but no action. While politicians argue, people like Fatima are losing everything.”
This is the fourth major U.N. climate-related summit this year to falter. Talks on biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and broader climate change have similarly struggled to yield tangible outcomes. The next opportunity for progress will not come until 2026, when Mongolia hosts COP 17—far too long for those already living on the edge.
Voices of the Affected
For families like Fatima’s, two years is an eternity. Her village in Chad is one of many across Africa where drought has left fields barren and livelihoods shattered. Children are the hardest hit. Without enough food, malnutrition is rampant, stunting their growth and futures.
Aid groups working in drought-stricken regions stress that solutions exist—if only the political will could match the need. Early warning systems, which use data to predict droughts, can save lives by giving communities time to prepare. Infrastructure investments, such as drought-resistant crops, improved irrigation systems, and water storage facilities, could transform vulnerable regions into resilient ones.
“We know what needs to be done,” says Dr. Nassif. “But without financing, these solutions remain out of reach for those who need them most.”
In Brazil’s parched northeast, Maria Pereira echoes the frustration of millions. Her farm, which once produced beans and maize, now lies fallow. She has watched neighbors abandon their homes in search of opportunities elsewhere, a slow-moving migration crisis driven by climate despair. “We are being forced to leave behind generations of work,” she says.
The western United States faces its own version of the crisis. Farmers in California’s Central Valley—an agricultural hub—are battling dwindling groundwater supplies amid intensifying droughts. Experts say such situations will only worsen as global temperatures continue to rise.
A Call to Action Ignored
While nations squabble over funding and responsibilities, those on the frontlines of the crisis are left wondering if the world will ever act. Leaders at COP 16 acknowledged the grim realities laid out in the U.N. report but opted to defer critical decisions until 2026. To Fatima, Maria, and countless others, such delays are unconscionable.
In her closing remark at COP16 U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed emphasized on the reality now and the one ahead: “Our work does not end with the closing of COP16. We must continue to tackle the climate crisis—it is a call to action for all of us to embrace inclusivity, innovation, and resilience. Youth and Indigenous peoples must be at the heart of these conversations. Their wisdom, their voices, and their creativity are indispensable as we craft a sustainable future with renewed hope for generations to come.”
Environmental advocates argue that the Riyadh failure highlights a broader issue: the lack of enforceable mechanisms to hold nations accountable. Unlike other global crises, drought and desertification have often been overlooked, relegated to the sidelines of climate discussions.
“We cannot afford to see this as just another climate issue,” says Akumu. “Drought threatens food security, livelihoods, and peace. Without action, we are staring at a humanitarian catastrophe on an unimaginable scale.”
Waiting for Solutions
As COP 16 concludes, the question remains: how many more lives will be upended before the world acts? For Fatima in Chad, Maria in Brazil, and farmers in California, time is running out.
The failure to agree in Riyadh marks not just a diplomatic setback, but a moral failing on the part of global leadership. While politicians push decisions to the next summit, millions are left to navigate the harsh realities of a drying world alone.
“We need action, not words,” Fatima says, wiping sweat from her brow as she prepares for another day of fetching water. “Our children deserve better.”
The burden of inaction will ultimately fall hardest on those who have contributed the least to the crisis. As global leaders head home from Riyadh, the echoes of desperation from drought-stricken communities will persist—waiting for a world that cannot seem to decide when enough is enough.
