The century of drought

One third of the planet will be desert by the year 2100, say climate experts in the most dire warning yet of the effects of global warming

Drought threatening the lives of millions will spread across half the land surface of the Earth in the coming century because of global warming, according to a new study from the Met Office's Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research.

The research shows that extreme drought could affect 30 percent of the world's land surface, up from the current span of 3 percent. Severe drought will affect 40 percent of the earth's land, up from eight percent, and moderate drought, which currently affects about 25 percent of the world's surface, will rise to 50 percent.