Multi-year droughts are becoming hotter, lasting longer and causing more damage: study

By Alexandra Mae Jones – CBC

Droughts that stretch on for years at a time are becoming longer and more devastating for ecosystems across the globe, according to a new study.   

And in the wake of 2024 being declared the hottest year on record, it’s raising questions about how prepared Canada is for what’s to come. 

When an individual drought event has a huge impact on the environment or communities, it garners a lot of attention. But many droughts occur in regions with a low enough human population to go unreported, or in tropical or mountainous regions where the impacts aren’t immediately detrimental or obvious, making it hard to get an accurate picture of the occurrence of drought.