Half of China is tormented by floods and landslides, the Guardian reported; the other half are lacking water. And for farmers hit by drought, concerns are growing that this could mean the end of their livelihoods.
What is happening?
North and Central China are suffering months of prolonged dry and extreme heat, which is causing Chinese farmers to postpone planting. This has led to a delay in the production of popular crops such as rice, corn and commonly used herbs such as mugwort.
“With advanced technology and artificial rainfall, there would be some hope for us,” a farmer told AFP, via Physics.org. “But if it really doesn’t rain, ordinary people like us will face total crop failure. That’s the way it is.”
According to Phys.org, another farmer echoed the grim sentiments, saying, “If it really doesn’t rain, (the crops) will all die.”
Why is this pattern so concerning?
This drought will significantly threaten Food supply in China – which was already a concern in a country with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants – as well as the global food supply. But what worries experts most is what will happen in the coming seasons if these severe droughts continue.
This is likely, given the Weather Patterns that scientists have cataloged for decades. Although droughts have long been part of the natural climate cycle, their severity and duration are increasing due to a critical factor: global warming.
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Global warming is connected to increasingly erratic weather patterns and a increase in extreme weather events. A heavy layer of warm air in the atmosphere acts as a “steroid“, prolonging droughts and, ironically, intensifying tropical storms.
Even now, as farmers in central and northern China are drying out in the heat, the southern half of China is being shipwrecked by heavy inundation and landslides, leaving several people dead and many others missing, according to Phys.org.
What is being done about this?
Scientists are working to innovate different ways to protect crops from drought, whether by modifying crops to I need less water or experiencing artificial rain systemsalthough the latter remains controversial due to the use of chemicals.
Not all farmers have yet been hit by severe drought, but the possibility appears to be increasing every day as nearly every city faces the threat of climate-intensified weather.
The best thing an individual can do is work to reduce its own footprint to slow global warming, whether by supporting green brands, voting for pro-climate candidates, growing your own food, switching for an EV, abandoning disposable plasticsor using a green bank.
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