Motif: A drop of water on the palm as a symbol of global drought caused by climate change
The stamp was issued in a 10-stamp sheetlet, and the Croatian Post has also issued a First Day Cover (FDC).
This issue was realized as part of the course “Design – Visual Communications 3” in the second year of the undergraduate study program of design at the School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb.
According to meteorological measurements, the Earth is undergoing significant climate changes. They are largely caused by human activities, primarily due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and are occurring much faster than anticipated. The effects of these changes are devastating, and one of the significant consequences is global drought.
A review of global drought in September 2024, published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC), highlights the severity of temperature and precipitation anomalies. Record-breaking temperatures and low precipitation levels are impacting food production, livelihoods and energy generation in many regions of the world. In July 2024, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, breaking historical records with an average of 17.16°C. This extreme heat led to water evaporation from the soil, and combined with unusually low rainfall levels, it caused major river basins such as the Amazon, La Plata and Zambezi to experience water flow lower than usual. This had a devastating impact on ecosystems as well as the economies dependent on them.
Droughts, along with heatwaves, have a huge impact on crop yields in several regions of Europe, Southern Africa, Central and South America and Southeast Asia. Farmers in areas affected by prolonged droughts are facing reduced harvests and crop failure, which impacts their incomes as well as local economies. On the other hand, rivers, lakes and water reservoirs are drying up as a result of the combined effects of prolonged rainfall shortages and high evaporation rates caused by elevated temperatures. Alarmingly low water levels threaten agriculture, drinking water supplies, transportation and hydroelectric power production.
If the conditions of extreme droughts, driven by climate change, persist, they could quickly push millions of people in many regions of the world into crises with serious consequences: triggering mass migrations due to shortages of drinking water and food, destabilizing economies, which could ultimately lead to armed conflicts.
In light of worsening drought conditions, international cooperation and timely interventions are crucial in the fight against climate change and its associated droughts. Early detection systems, such as drought monitoring, can provide farmers and policymakers with evidence to support and accelerate drought forecasting and response efforts. Using drought-resistant crops that require less water and tolerate heat better can help reduce yield losses, especially when combined with agroforestry techniques, conservation tillage and crop rotation. Efficient water management, such as reducing water loss through supply pipelines, implementing improved sustainable irrigation systems and investing in rainwater harvesting and desalination, can contribute to building a society resilient to prolonged droughts.
Climate change will, in some way, affect every person in every country on every continent. Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness of these facts in a timely manner and actively engage in the fight against this challenge of the modern age.
Frof.dr.sc. ivančica Ternjej
