Droughts in the Americas: Regional priorities, early warning systems, and sustainable development

This report documents a side event held during the 33rd Conference of the Parties (CoP-33) in Asunción, Paraguay, on May 28, 2025. Co-organized by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and other regional and international bodies, the event focused on formulating recommendations for drought management, improving early warning systems (EWS), and enhancing science-policy integration to support vulnerable sectors in Paraguay and the wider Americas.

• Global drought trends show a 29% increase in frequency since 2000, with projections suggesting that global freshwater demand will exceed supply by 40% by 2030. Between 2022 and 2023, one in four people globally were affected by drought, and 85% of those impacted lived in low- and middle-income countries.
• The economic impact of drought is significant, with estimated damages from 2000 to 2019 at USD 128 billion, though annual costs may actually reach USD 307 billion when cascading impacts are considered.
• In 2024, severe climate events impacted Latin America and the Caribbean, including the total loss of glaciers in Venezuela, a 21-day heatwave in Mexico causing 90 deaths, and devastating wildfires in Chile's Valparaíso region resulting in over 130 deaths.
• Early Warning Systems (EWS) for droughts differ from those for floods because droughts unfold over longer time periods and typically result in fewer immediate deaths, requiring long-term risk assessment and monitoring rather than rapid response communication.
• The Drought Information System for Southern South America (SISSA) focuses on the agriculture, hydro-energy, and inland waterway transport sectors. It utilizes co-design and co-production with national working groups to create policy briefs for drought governance, though it faces challenges with institutional continuity due to government changes.
• Drought-induced low water levels at the Yacyretá hydroelectric plant necessitated bilateral negotiations between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. Paraguay prioritized river navigation for transporting 150,000 tons of goods, while Argentina and Brazil focused on drinking water supply and environmental protection.
• National meteorological services in Chile, Colombia, and Peru are evolving to bridge the gap between academic research and operational use. This includes moving away from 'one-size-fits-all' products toward localized, user-informed services and adopting open-access data and AI to support real-time decision-making.
• Sustainable financing for drought resilience requires moving beyond public investment to include private sector engagement, agricultural insurance, and climate-resilient credit lines. A challenge noted in Uruguay is the fluctuation of insurance demand based on seasonal forecasts, such as La Niña and El Niño events.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Droughts in the Americas: Regional priorities, early warning systems, and sustainable development. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Drought%20report%202025%20English.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Droughts in the Americas: Regional priorities, early warning systems, and sustainable development. 2025. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Drought%20report%202025%20English.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Droughts in the Americas: Regional priorities, early warning systems, and sustainable development |date=28 May 2025 |url=https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Drought%20report%202025%20English.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025droughts, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Droughts in the Americas: Regional priorities, early warning systems, and sustainable development}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Drought%20report%202025%20English.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }