Deserts are expanding and threatening our planet

Climate change is causing deserts to grow worldwide, a process called desertification. This happens as shifting weather patterns reduce rainfall and increase dryness, turning fertile land into barren expanses. Over 40 percent of Earth's land is already degraded, with deserts like the Sahara encroaching on once-vegetated areas. Rising temperatures worsen this by increasing evaporation, making it harder for plants to survive and soil to hold moisture.