“We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño event – which will exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean.” warns WMO Secretary‑General Celeste Saulo.

As a new El Niño event approaches, attention is turning to preparedness and coordinated action on drought. As a major driver of global weather patterns, El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon marked by unusually warm waters in the central and eastern Pacific, disrupting weather systems worldwide. Its onset increases the likelihood of extreme events, affecting water resources, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

Drought as a global challenge

Under the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”, the Desertification and Drought Day 2026 highlights today the importance of rangelands for food and water security, biodiversity, and climate resilience, while drawing attention to increasing pressures on these systems.

Together, these developments reinforce a clear message: proactive drought risk management and resilience-building are essential to safeguarding communities, economies, and ecosystems.

From warning to action: advancing drought resilience

In response to these challenges, the UNEP-DHI Centre is supporting UNEP to develop a technical report proposing a global Drought Resilience Capacity Index (DRCI) to support efforts to strengthen drought resilience.

The index aims to help countries better understand and manage drought risk by assessing their capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought, and guide action and investments in drought resilience.

Looking ahead to COP17

Global momentum will continue at the upcoming UNCCD COP17, taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17–28 August 2026. Under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”, COP17 will bring together governments, scientists, and stakeholders to address the interconnected challenges of drought, land degradation, and resilience.

The proposed Drought Resilience Capacity Index is expected to be formally launched during COP17.

Stay tuned for more updates and save the date for COP17 in August 2026, where this work will be brought to the global stage.