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Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy
Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

  • Publication | 2025
Global Drought Outlook: Trends, Impacts and Policies to Adapt to a Drier World
Global Food and Nutrition Security

Droughts are becoming more frequent, prolonged and severe with climate change, threatening water security and placing growing pressure on people, ecosystems and economies. From reduced crop yields and strained power supply and river trade to degraded landscapes and disrupted livelihoods, the impacts of droughts are on the rise – and so are their costs. 

The OECD’s Global Drought Outlook assesses how countries can strengthen drought management to adapt to a changing climate. It provides new insights into the rising human, environmental, and economic impacts of droughts and offers practical policy solutions to minimise losses, build long-term resilience, and support adaptation to a drier future.