Droughts and Wildfires Wreck Harvests Across Europe and Africa — $12bn UN Fund Races to Respond
A severe, continent-wide drought is pushing farmers into crisis, with vegetable and grain growers warning of “catastrophic” harvest losses as wildfires rage from Belgium to Greece, while a worsening shortage of rainfall threatens to kill livestock and starve the Irob community in Ethiopia.
As successive heatwaves and dry conditions devastate crops and fuel record blazes, the UN’s biennial talks on desertification have gained new urgency—and new money. Delegates from nearly 200 countries are gathering in Mongolia for COP17, the UN summit focused on drought and land degradation, to decide how to allocate more than $12bn (£8.9bn) to vulnerable nations struggling with these crises [221430][220715]. The funds, described as a “war chest” by organizers, aim to help countries adapt to increasingly dry conditions and restore degraded land [221430].
French growers report that vegetable production has fallen sharply compared with previous years, with shortfalls estimated at 25% for courgettes, 35% for lettuces, 40% for peas, 60% for broccoli, and between 50% and 100% for artichokes [221476]. Farmers are calling for urgent action as the dry conditions continue to threaten food supplies across the region [221476].
In Ethiopia, local authorities warn that prolonged dry conditions in eastern Tigray could lead to livestock deaths, disease, and starvation for the Irob community, a minority group that depends heavily on herding and farming [221498]. With rains failing, their animals face a lack of pasture and water, and officials say the situation is deteriorating, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis [221498].
In Europe, firefighters are battling some of the worst wildfires on record, with blazes burning from Belgium to Greece [221356]. In France, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced a €12 million aid package for regions hardest hit by ongoing wildfires, though her visit was met with frustration from local officials and residents who say the government’s response has been too slow [221067]. In southwestern France, a wildfire near Luglon in the Landes region has already destroyed more than 1,500 hectares of land, with hot spots threatening nearby homes [219812].
Scientists say these extreme weather patterns are driven by human-induced climate change [221356]. Authorities warn the fire season is far from over [221356].
Wildfires and Heatwaves Push $12bn UN Drought Deal into Spotlight UNCCD COP17 Opens in Mongolia’s Capital France PM pledges €12M as wildfires rage across Europe Wildfires rage from Belgium to Greece as Europe battles record blazes Europe’s Farmers Face ‘Catastrophic’ Harvests as Drought Worsens Wildfire in France’s Landes region burns 1,500 hectares as firefighters race against time.