Drought, characterized by a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall and a shortage of water, has far-reaching implications for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Primarily, it strikes at the heart of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by reducing water availability for personal, agricultural, and industrial use. It also threatens SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), as drought conditions can devastate crop yields, increase food insecurity and potentially lead to famine. Drought aligns closely with SDG 13 (Climate Action) as it is a significant climate change impact that requires adaptive and resilient solutions. The vulnerability of communities, particularly in developing nations, to drought resonates with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as it can exacerbate economic disparities and push those on the margins into deeper poverty. Drought's disruption of ecosystems also impacts SDG 15 (Life on Land), affecting biodiversity and land health.
Droughts are significant drivers of land degradation, which in turn has adverse effects on resource-dependent rural populations and can potentially lead to livelihood losses and subsequent migration out of affected areas. Linkages between land degradation and migration are complex and not particularly well documented, as they occur within a larger context of multi-scale interactions of socio-economic, political, demographic, and environmental processes. Given these uncertainties, further research in this field is needed.
This paper discusses the CO2 footprint of California's drought during 2012–2014. We show that California drought significantly increased CO2 emissions of the energy sector by around 22 million metric tons, indicating 33% increase in the annual CO2 emissions compared to pre-drought conditions. We argue that CO2 emission of climate extremes deserve more attention, because their cumulative impacts on CO2 emissions are staggering. Most countries, including the United States, do not have a comprehensive a nationwide energy-water plan to minimize their CO2 emissions.
